The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-02
THE SKIES In SEPTEMBER.

Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Saturn will
be evening stars throughout the month.
Saturn and Uranus are in the constella-
ton Libra. the ringed planet being a few
degrees the farthest west. Saturn will
move about three degrees Ghutheastward
during the month; is now quite near the
sun. and can be seen only in the early
evening. 1t sets soon after 8 y. m. on
Sept. 1. and almost two hours earlier on
the 30th. The elevation of the earth above
the rings will increase gradually during
the remaining months of the year.
Mercury and Venus are in the constella-
ton Virgo, and both are now moving east
ward, with Mercury quite a little distance
in advance of his fair neighbour. Venus is,
however, moving the fastest and will over
take and pass Mercury before the end of
the month. At the time of their c~onjunc-
ton. which occurs on the 24th, the two
/ planets. will be four and one-half degrees
| apart in declination. with the first magni-
tude star Spica Ga Virginis) almost di-
rectly between them. Mercury. seeming
ly disappointed at the result of the race
eastward. becomes stationary on the oath.
turns westward, and will then soon be lost
in the rays of the sun. The moon will pass
about five degrees north of Venus on the
Sth. in the afternoon, and two degrees
north Of Mercury the following morning.
Mercury will reach greatest eastern elong-
alton on the 18th.
Jupiter, Mars and Neptune are morning
| stars. Mars will be at quadrature, ninety
degrees west of the sun, on Sept. /. He
rises at about 1880 p. m. on the first even
ings of the month, and more than an hour
and a half earlier on the 31st. lie is now
about four degrees north of the first mag
nitude star Adelbaran Ga TaurD and will.
during the month move nearly fifteen de-
grees eastward in the constellation Tau ,us.
The distance between the earth and our
ruddy neighbor is rapidly growing less,
and the resultant increase in brightness
of Mars is easily recognized from month
to month. Reports of recent observations
show that Mars is already quite interest
ing as seen in the large telescope. He will
pass less than one degree north of Nep-
tune on the oath and be in conjunction
with, and five degrees south of, the moon
on the 2Sth.
The apparent distance between Jupiter
and the sun is rapidly increasing, and the
giant planet will rise at 4:15 a. M. Sept. /
and at ESQ a. IN. on the 30th. He will
move six degrees eastward during the
month, passing less than half a degree
north of the first magnitude star Regulus
Ca Leonis) on the 19t.- in the morning. The
moon will be about one degree south Of
Jupiter on the 9th, at midnight.
The milky way extends from northeast
to southwest between 9 and 10 o'clock on
the first evening of the month. Capella
is seen in the northeast Arcturus in the
northwest, Fomalhaut in the southeast.
Antares in the southwest. and Vega and
Affair overhead. Algoi. the Demon Star in
the constellation Perseus. which Is the
most conspicuous of the egulariy Vari-
able stars. and whose variations are easily
recognized without optical aid. Will be at
minimum on the 9th at 3 y. M, on the 10Th
at II D. M, and at s p. IN. on the 2Sth. me
length of its period is less than three days.
during which it is usually seen as a star
of the second magnitude. The decrease
and increase together do not occupy more
Than eight hours and 1t remains at mini
mum. when it appears TO be a fourth mag
nitude star. cess than twenty minutes.
The sun crosses the equator and enters
ginning of the astronomical autumn. Sept.
y. about Z a. IN.
AS the month begins the moon has just
passed its last quarter. ana new moon does
not occur until the 7th at 7:i3 a. IN. 1t
reaches first quarter at 1900 p. IN. on the
18th. and will be full on the 2lst at 4A9 p.
IN. Last quarter occurs on the 10Th at 7:5S
p. m.
Reports from the scientific expeditions
sent out to observe the total eclipse of the
sun, which occurred Aug. Q. are quite dis
appointing. Unfavorabie conditions of the
atmosphere prevailed at a majority OF the