The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-03
THE HEAVENS IN JANUARY.

Venus Is IN the eastern part OF the con-
steuaGon Libra, and during the month
VIII pass through Scorpius and enter Sa-
gittaT.us. She is far south, and toward
the close OF the month VIII rise 80 degrees
south OF east
Mars is stu further south, and late in
the month VIII rise IS degrees south OF
east. de Is sojourning IN the eastern part
or ScoFplus, and Will enter Sag1ttariuS be-
fore tbs end OF the month.
Jupiter is in Cancer, and is beginning 70
show his glory as monarch OF the evening
skies. He VIII wear this distinction
through the winter and spring months.
He celebrates this month by his opposi-
ton with the sun on the oath. and by two
conJunctions with the moon These con-
functions occur on the I'd and 18th. and
each time the planet viii be only about =
degrees south OF the moon. About the
middle OF the month he passes the meridian
at l o'clock in the morning.
Saturn Is In Libra, and IS an ulustrious
associate or Venus, Mars. Spica, Areturus
and the Northern Crown, IN the morning
SKY. The early riser can behold splendor
in the heavens. IN magnificent rivalry with
the glory of the evening sky.
On January ! at o'clock washington
City mean time, the earth is.at the peri
helion point Of her orbit She is then 81.
$4,000 miles from the sun. The perihelion
around the sun. Now she passes this sta
ton about ten days after the shortest day
OF the year. But in A. y. l26S, the shortest
day Of the year marked the earth's peri
helion passage. This was because the
apsidal line Of the eaTth's~ orbit (the line
joining the perihelion and ophelion) COIN
cided with the solstitial line lthe line join
ing the solstices).
Then the autumn and winter were OF
equal length. and each shorter than the
spring and summer, which were also OF
equal length.
About A. ID. 6493 the earth will pass her
perihelIon at the time Of the vernal equi-
nox,. or March 20. Then the apsidal line
Will coincide with the equinoctial line (the
line Joining the equinoxes). and the winter
and spring will be Of equal length, and
each shorter than the summer and autumn.
which will also be of equal length.
The apsdal, equinoctial and solSttial
lines may be compared 10 the hands
OF clock, the circumference OF whose dial
plate is the suns annual track IN the skies,
or the ecliptic.
Around this circle the apsldal line moves
forward-that is. from west to east, as
the sun appears TO move-and makes rev.
oluton in l0S,0oo years.
But the equinoctial and solsdtial lines
always at right-angles to each other-move
backward, or contrary to the motion OF the
apsidal line, and make a revolution in
% 500 years. The result Of these move
ments is TO make the perihelion or ophelon
move from an equinox or solstice to the
same equinox or solst.ce again. once in
1880 years.
Also the apsidal line Will Coincide with
either of the other lines. twice during this
period. or once every 1880 years So IL
the apsidal line comedies with she
equInoctal line today it VIII be
at right-angles to the same line at the
end OF 5.25 years, and at the same time
will coincide with the solstitial line
AS we think of these giant clock hands
of the sky measuring out vast cycles OF
time, what visions sweep before the imagt-
nationl What civilizations rise and fall
what mighty changes come oven the face
OF mother earthI ORRIN E. HARMON.