Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-02
SKIES In JANUARY.
CHANGES IN CELESTIAL WORLDS AND
THOSE ON THE EARTH.
The Five CIrcumpolar, and About Fifteen
Other Consultations VIII BE Seen
Nightly During the Month.


Other Consultations VIII BE Seen
Nightly During the Month.
Baltimore SUM-
While the years roll on continuously
producing In the transactions OF mankind
changes, often OF the most momentous ma
ture, wars and the menaCes of war com
motions which threaten the peace and
prosperity Of nations and the stability OF
governments. so that at the beginning or
the year nobody IL certain what the end
will be. whether the year win bring bless
ings or calamities-thc sky above us al
ways presents the same calm. serene, ana
Ieaceful appearance. There 80 on
changes, too, but they all are subject TO
immutable laws enabling man TO 'com-
pute ever 50 distant future phenomena
with the utmost precision. In the course
OF centuries the map Of this earth has
been undergoing incessant changes, whilst
those on the celestial map have been 50
minute as only TO be percepuble TO the
watchful eye Of the astronomer. and by
means Of the most powerful instruments.
While the history of mankind reckons by
decades ana centuries. the geological ana
astronomical ages are reckOned by mil
lions Of years. At the end OF the last
century IS was observed that two stars
In the constellation OF Hercules were
opening out, a fact which. on account Of
the extreme minuteness Of the change.
could only be asccrtained by powerful
telescopes and served TO the keen intellect
OF the astronomer as an incOntestable
proof OF the proper motion OF the sun
towards that constellation. Ey induction
and analogy Il Is TO be presumed that the
straight line in which the sun moves Is
the arc OF Il circle OF an immense radius,
50 that 1t takes millions OF years before
the sun completes one circuit around an
other sun or a group Of suns. The ccle-
bratcd astronomer Nader maintained that
il moved about AlcyOnc. the brightest OF
the seven stars Of the Plelades. which h:
considered the central sun around which
not only our own solar system but the
whole universe reVolves. This theory,
however, has been dsproved. and conse-
quently abandoned. Other fixed stars
have been caught at proper motion. and
there is the highest degree OF probability
that the whole universe Is In motion sub
iect to NeWtOu's great law OF sravita-
ton, which DcrVadCs all nature and eN-
tends TO the most distant member OF
system which is 80 fathOmless as 20 pre-
clu0e adequate conception. These motions
OF the stars viii necessarily change their
relative positions to each other and pro-
dlce ckangc Of the figures Of the con-
stellaton, but ere such changes become
pcrccptible millions OF years Will have 10
elapse. Since the first records of the con-
stcllations were made. and for thousands
upon thousands Of vars hence. they have
presented and will present the same pic
tire.
ORDINARY PHENOMENA.
Before We enter upon the appearance
Of the sky during this month we wish
10 mention some Of the ordinary phe-
nomena which will take place in course
Of the year 1885, There viii be four
eclipscs-twO OF the sun and two OF the
moon--the former occurring on the goth
OF March and the 18th Of September;
the latter on the 9Th OF April and 18th OF
September. or the lunar echpses the Sc
cond Will be visible in this part ~ the
country, but Of the two solar eclipscs
neither will be visible here. There Will
occur transit Of Mercury over the
suns disc on the 10th Of November, vIsi-
bile here and also generally on the west
ern portion Of Europe Africa, North ana
South America, and the Pacific Ocean.
The planet Venus. still playing the part
Of evening star viii attain its greatest
hriliancy on the 10th Of January, ana
jupiter will brightly shine during each
night Of the month. Mars and Saturn
will not be seen at great advantage during
the month, whilst some OF the finest con-
stellations will render the armament eN-
traorlnarily beautiful. The five clrcum-
polar and about fifteen Of the other prin-
cipal considerations viii be seen during
tss.., Of N
sIRIUs-THE DOG-STAR.
Pegasus Is close upon the horizon, te-
Meath which II will sink in course Of the
month. Audromela will shine yet for tho
next three months. The bright star VEGA
viii not be- seen to rise before :he mOnh
81 May. while Capella and Aldebaran viii
be on or near the meridian orion IS con-
stantly approaching H.. and TWO stars or
superior briiliancy have come w in the
east. one OF these. Sirius. or the dog
star. in tho constellation Of Canis-M4JCr,
the Great Dog. glOWs In the winter Ee'ni-
sDhcre with a lustTe which IL unaQualled
hy any other fixed star In the nrmanent.
IL Is one Of the few fixed stars whose an
nual parallaX-the meaning Of which We
shall have occasion 20 explain at greater
length some future day-has been n'a-
sured. enabling the astronomer 10 est-
mittcd through space at the rate $4,000
miles "a second. and II requires twenty
two years for the light of Sirius 20 reach
US In spite Of this enormous distance, IL
admits Of no doubt that the majority OF
fixed stars exceed r.. IN ancient Dimes
Sirius was always looked at with IN cN-
traordinary degree Of interest The Ro-
mans attrLuting 10 II an influence upon
their herds ana fields, yearly sacrificed
a dog for its Precipitation. The ancients
gave 10 that period OF the year when Sirius
rose with the sun the name ~ dOg-dayS,
which at present begin in July and end
in August. The peculiar denomination Of
dog-days H. due 10 the name Of the con-
stellation. The other bright star is Pro-
cvon. I'm the constellation OF CAMS Minor,
or the Little Dog. With Sirius and Re
telycusc In orion IL forms "A large equila-
teral triangle. Taurus with majestic Jul
piter in - midst Orion, the Two Dogs.
Gemini, Amiga, with seven stars Of the
first magnitude. form a n panorama, the
dazzling and impressive beauty OF which
cannot fan 10 fiji the soul OF the beholder
with awe and wonder at the grandeur OF
craaffon