The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-01
nm STARS IN FEBRUARY.
4 Brilliant Month Among the Heavenly
Bodies.

nx.rcprv Soon to Come Into View as
Evsning Star-Venus Rapidly Sink
,ng in the West and Diminishing
a. splendor-Mars the Morning Star
Now-Jupiter Conspicuous in the
p,sning Sky - The Consultations
and Fixed Stars.
The planet Mercury is now almost
directly on the opposite side Of the. sun
from rs, but its rapid motion will soon
HING il into view as evening star. Owing
a. the great centricity of Mercury's
orhit and to our position in regard to it,
This planet's angular distance from the
ann at its greatest elongation will be al
most a minimum. 1t will pass its ascend
inc node on the 10Th and its perihelion
an the oath. It's greatest elongation
will occur on the 25th, and it Will be only
IS s..
VENUS.
This brilliant planet has been sinking
rapidly in the west day by day for several
weeks, and diminishing IN splendor. On
the 10Th it will be in inferior conjunction
and nearest to us, but as its illuminated
side will be turned away from us it will
from Feb l6 till Nov. 30.
MARS.
Mars is morning star, and it passes the
meridian at $50 o'clock. We are now
rapidly overtaking this planet, but not
until October will we be in the most
favorable position for observing it. 1t is
easily recognized by its ruddy color and
BY its position high up in the southeast
at daybTeak.
JUPITER.
This interesting world is still a very
conspicuous object in the evening sky. 1t
is near the Pleades and is on the meridian
at o'clock While we are receding from
Jupiter, the telescope still renders it an
object of much interest to the observer
On the 18th it will be in quadrature with
the sun, and on the 18th the moon will be
in conjunction with it.
SATURN.
Saturn is morning star, and it may be
seen about five degrees northwest of
Spica, the largest star in the constella-
ton Virgo. 1t passes the meridian about
O'Clock a. m. 1t will be in the best posi-
ton for observation in April.
URANUS AND NEPTUNE.
These two planets are now invisible to
the naked eye, though Neptune may be
easily seen with a good opera glass in the
constellation Taurus near the V shaped
group Of the Hyades, now nearly over
head at dark. 1t may be distin guished by
a faint greenish light from the small stars
near it.
TIE CONSULTATIONS AND THE FIXED
STARS.
In the north Ursa Major is east of Po-
lars, Cassiopeia above, Cepheus is west,
and Ursa Minor and Draco below. Along
the ecliptic Leo with the bright star
Regulus is just rising, Cancer is well up,
Gemml midway, Taurus on the meridian,
ARES past, Pisces farther to the west,
and lastly Aquarius just setting. Nearly
overhead and little to the north is Cap
ella, large white star in the constella-
uon Aurlga, and high up in the east are
the twin stars Castor and Pollux near
Iogetner. Castor is the one nearest the
po!e; In the southeast, Sirius blazes, the
brightest OF the fixed stars. This is the
log star, described as red by the an
GENTS. 1t is now decidedly white. To
Lne northeast of Sirius is Procyon or the
nItle Dog star, while higher up toward
we west may be seen three stars in line
SHOWN as the Belt of Orion To the
SCUM OF the belt is Rigel, star of the
5 1isl magnitude. And about the same
Instance 10 the north is a large red star
called Beteigeuse. Aldebaran is in the V
SNAPPED group of the Hyades nearly on the
bSi l' and 1t may be easily recognized
~ lIs RED color. Still further to the
weSI Is Jupiter, the bright star near the
re ielddes or Seven stars. Peeping above
.ne horlZon IN the extreme south at Q
CLOCK large star may be seen for an
muuI or two only. This is Campus, re-
hhi nu from the circumstance that it
las, r.aS oeen gradually growing fainter from
rolVVe antiquity. 1t cannot be seen
NolVn Oh Nashville. OTIS AsHMoRE.