Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-11-15
NOVEMBER HEAVENS.
Selestial Phenomena Which Will In
terest Astronomers This
Month.

southwark the days grow continually
shorter, TILL at the months close they will
be less than nine hours long. November
sunsets are, however, among the finest
OF the year. writes the astronomer Of the
New York Times. The clear atmosphere
of this season heightens the effect and
brings out the coloring in richer tints
tnan when there is a greater Difference in
temperature between air and water. and
there is more or less haziness about the
horizon.
On the 9th the moon that came in on
the 18th of last month reaches the phase
of first quarter, but there is no conjunc-
ton with any of the planets until the
18th, on which the date Mars opens the
monthly list. Neptune's turn comes the
day after the full of the moon and Jupi-
ters on the 10th. but the distance is far
TOO great for an attractive tableau. Sat
urn on the oath and Mercury and Uranus
on the both are also in the same category.
On the 9th Venus and Luna pass within
D degrees of each other, but do not afford
us much that is of interest. While the
moon does not play Il very prominent part
with the planets this month, the latter
are playing some very important roles in
which the sun is also greatly interested.
This series leads off with Uranus being
III conjunction on the 7th, at which he
passes from the evening to the morning
stars.
On the 10th there will be a transit of
Mercury over the suns disk which is
visible here and quite generally in the
western portions of Europe, in Africa,
North and South America and the Pacific
ocean. The time from exterior contact
to the egress is about five hours and a
quarter. The phenomenon is not a par
ticula1y imposing spectacle, like, for in
stance. Il total solar eclipse, nor of such
sensational interest as a transit Of Venus;
but it has considerable importance in the
astronomy of precision, and a certain
of Venus, which, unhappily for this gen
Grafton, will never occur until we have
all passed away, as the next time Venus
crosses the disk of the sun will be in
the year 20G4. Mercury, however. affords
us more frequent amusement, as there VIII
be traHsitS i'll 1907 and 1914.
The translts of Mercury are chiefly or
Importance on account of the accuracy
which their observation infuses into calcu-
lations of the movements OF the planet.
1t has often been hoped that the obser-
vations during a transit would present
reliable information as to the physical
character of the globe of Mercury. 10
some eXtent-but not, unhappIy, to a
large extent-these hopes have been real
lied Sl1illful observers have described
the appearance OF the planet IN transit as
that of a round, dark spot surrounded
by a luminous margin OF depth Varlously
estimated on different occasions at from
one third to two-thirds the planets dram
eter There can be hardly Il doubt that
a dense atmosphere surrounding Mercury
would be capable of producing an appear
ance resembling that which has been de-
scribed and therefore the probability that
such an atmosphere really exists must DE
admitted On the other hand, the meas
urements of the intensity OF Hght from
Mercury seem to make the existence OF
An atmosphere somewhat doubtful.
Mercury is an interesting and beautiful
object which stimulates our intellectual
curiosity. while at the same time it has
thus far successfully eluded all our at
tempts to obtain more complete knoWl-
edge. 1t is a difficult but not by any
means impossible task to weigh Mercury
in the celestial balance and determine
his mass in comparison with the other
globes of our system. This is indeed a
delicate operation, but 1t leads through
some of the most interesting paths OF
astronomical discovery. The weight of
tbr nlanet. as determined by Won Asten.
is about one-twenty-fourt part OF the
, weight of the earth.
Saturn has hardly emerged sufficiently
from the suns engulhng rays to permit
MS to gaze on his fair face. and we shall
not see much of him this year. His place
is among the morning stars. and the con-
Stellation of the Virgin in his location.
on the 18th Venus and Uranus are III
conjunction. and the meeting is very close
indeed. but the planets are too near the
SIN for us to see their approach and watch
their disks almost touch. only to separate
again for a long, long time before once
more coming in such close proximity.
Ioter ON the same day Venus and Mer-
cn,.v find themselves much closer together
thon the other two planets, and 1t is adj
ditionally aggrayating to have SO many
of orr friends in a bunch without our
beino able TO see them. From what has
already been said it can readily be sur
missed that Venus herself is well on
toward conjunction, and such an idea IS
Iorrect for on the Both the fairest of
10 nIanets is in superior conjunction, and
wban next we see her it will be in a rosy
sitting in the western section OF the SKY,
! where she will be serenely shining soon
after the sun has SET.
Iuniter is in the constellation or the
Twins but his pafh shr1ng 4he res his ee
tins is fairly brilliant, and as he rises
- IA IL, evening ,,iit, cones 70 oIi
,no,.;a;an some time in the middle OF the
n;cht we have an excellent opportunity
70 naze unon this giant OF the planets.
About the middle of the month an tour
~ his satellites may be seen on the same
side of the primary. Jupiter ana the
,,aon are in conjunction shortly after the
Eli .nd while there is considerable DIS
+anca between them. a fine opportunity
;s afforded to compare them 1t Will De
hard to realize as we see them ina. tne
nGod of the Heavens bears the same
otto RI fair Luna that a pumpkin does
70 Neptune pt is now approaching the most
fovorabIe position for observation. Early
:; - December he is in opposition to the
SIM. and his diameter is the largest Tor
+ha year. when it is 266 seconds. guam
- however. far easier to express than
= i to measure. even with ordinary IN
strnments of precision. Neptune, the
Story goes when he went to meet Am
Hhitrite. selected one Of the most beautl-
fuiIy-colored dolphins he could find as his
FOOD and Amphitrite smiled so sweetly
~ La, that Is rcaS then and there de-