The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-02
A MONTH FOR STAR GAZING.
EVERY PLANET IN THE SOLAR sYS-
TEN NOW VISIBLE.

Rare Occurrence in Celestial Move
ments-Mercury at It's Best This
Week-Venus the Brilliant Light
of the Western Sky-Jupiter Hard
Iy Less BriIIiant-saturn the star
of the Eastern Heavens. .+
Every planet in the solar system which
is ever visible to the naked eye may now
be seen at dark If one only knows just
where to look. Every one of the planets,
including the earth. is on the same side
Of the sum,-a circumstance which is quite
rare in celestial movements.
The planet Mercury win attain its great
est eastern elongation on the 4th. and for
several days before and after this time this
shy planet may be seen as a star Of the
first magnitude low down in the west at
dark about one hour and forty minutes be-
hind the sun and almost directly in his
track. One the 7th Mercury will pass with
in enc degree of the planet Jupiter, The
conjunction will be a beautiful one, and
easily seen with the unaided eye at dark.
Venus is the most brilliant star in the
western sky at this time, and as her mo-
ton is now almost directly toward US, her
brilliancy will continue to increase for
several weeks. This planet now looks like
half-moon in the telescope. Venus will
continue to rise higher in the west every
evening till July II, when it will appear 70
approach the sun again. Just above We
nus may be seen a red star much smaller
than Venus apparently. as, indeed, it is
much more distant. This is the planet
Mars. We are leaving Mars far behind
in cur swifter flight. and soon he will
he lost in the dazzling rays Of the sun,
On the 5th Venus and Mars will be within
one degree of each other.
Below Venus the planet Jupiter may he
seen shining with a brilliancy scarcely
less than that of Venus herself, hut some
what obsCured by the denser atmosphere
near the horizon. So, in the same quar-
ter of the sky may be seen Mercury. We
nus. Mars and Jupiter at the same time,
Added to this rare picture. the moon will
on the evening of the 18th pass within q
distance of its own apparent diameter o.
the brilliant Venus This sparkling gem
hanging almost upon the crescent of the
new moon, will form a pretty picture in
the evening sky.
In the east about mid-ay to the merid-
ian Saturn shines with a steady white
light. 1t is the largest star in that part OF
nized. The large star further towards the
meridian is Spica in Virgo.
Saturn is in fine position for observation
now, and a telescope of moderate power
Will easily reveal its rings now well opened
TO view, and besides one or more of Its
eight moons. Below Saturn near the star
Alpha Librae the planet Uranus is situat-
ed but its great distance from us renders
it barely visible to,tIe naked eye Neptune
is nearly or the opposite side of the sun
| from us and hence invisible.
In the north Ursa Major is above Polaris
| and Cassiopiea below. In the east Cyg1ue
! and Aquiia are rising, Lyra with the bright
! blue star Vega well up and the Northern
! Crown is nearly overhead. Almost directly
| overhead is the red star sArcturus in
! Bootes. Along the ecliptic Scorpio is ris-
! ing Libra midway, Virgo on-the meridian
/ Leo with the Sickle past. Cancer midway
| Gemini next, and Taurus setting. In the
northwest Auriga is near the horizon. In
! the northeast is Hercules, that quarter oil
| the heavens towards which the sun and al
/ its attendant planets are drifting at tho
rate Of 80, 100000 miles a year.
Otis Ashmore.