Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-01-02
THE JANUARY HEAVENS
in 1890 tho Moon Is Twice Eclipsed-
Lunnr ConJuaettons- TIL. Planets.


PITY fNsinning OF the year brings with It
the arrival Of the earth ut its nearest point
20 the sun, perlhclion, as IL Is called, but
otherwise in this season In our calendar
docs not coincide with any of the great
time marks on the dial plate of the flrma-
ment.
The moon in 1896 Is twice cclipsed, once
on Feb. 2S. when there will be partial
hiding of the disk but not visible to us; in
August, however, there will be n second
partial eclipse, Mt which we shall be al
lowed TO have n look The moon of 1895.
that we now have. goes through the
phase of last quarter on the 7th and the
first moon of the new year comes in on
the 1ith. II will be almost the last day Of
the month when we see the full face OF
moon. which is ever a welcome eompan-
ion when seighing and coasting arc in
order.
The lunar conjunctions begin with Jupi-
tor on tho 2d, and on the 18th the two
heavenly bodies are again quite close TO
each other although not quite so much as
as earlier in the month. ON the 9,h the
waning crescent and Saturn pass each
other at their closest for the month, and
the day following Uranus receives its frs
visit for the year. Venus on the 11th. fol-
lowed by Mars on the 18th are In conjunc-
ton with the moon, but all too great a
distance for scenic effect. Mercury, the
day following the new moon, finds the
moon within about half degree, but the
two are SO near the sun that we cannot
sec the meeting with any degree of salts
faction. ON the 2Gth Neptunes turn comes,
and, as has been stated already. the series
ends on the Goth by Jupiter being revisited.
The place of honor among the heavenly
bodies FOR January must be accorded Jupi-
ter, as that magnificent planet passes on
the 9th from a morning to an evening
star. being on the date mentioned, in oppo-
"a y
sets and passing maiesticaly across the
blue arch of heaven so that we can gaze
at him at any hour OF the night. and be
sure OF companion during our midnight
vigils, If such perchance we are forced 10
undergo. At this period of his career
Jupiter is at his largest; for. after this
month has passed. his disk grows per-
ceptibly smaller. until August, when II will
have been reduced by one-third its pres
ent size. Venus begins the leap year well
by asserting herself in the morning skies
and driving Jupiter out to shine as an
evening star. She will remain queen of
the morning twinklers until July, when
she will be in superior conjunction with
the sun and become herself an evening
star Her charming face has now its most
bcwtching expression, but 1t is lessening
in size, and, while 1t finally grows again,
1t will not attain its present diameter be-
fore the year closes.
Saturn Is now in the constellation OF
Libra and shines as a morning star. The
Hinged Planet Is an early riser a. this
season OF the year, coming above the hori-
ION about four hours in advance of the
sun. While his face expands little in the
course of the next few months, he will not
seem as large to us this year as he has
done on former occasions, when he was a
very conspicuous object among the brill
liants.
Uranus is also numbered among the
ta.l. II
position Is indicated by the moon, but the
numerous stars in that locality so far out
shine this glorious planet that VIC have to
bring cur faith to bear to induce Ms TO
believe that he really is there and that
he Is moro than four times as large as Our
own sphere.
Mars Is a very small object IN .hc morn
ing. and night candles are almost burned
out when he comes above the horizon, tho
harhingcr of tho day which is all but
ready to gid tho mountain tops. we shall
have a far more beautiful object TO look
upon later In the year, when his warrior
Of the skies reaches his point of opposition
to the sun. The most brilliant star that
Is In the same neighborhood as Mars is
Antaies, {. reddish star in the tail of the
Scorpion. Neptune has no prominent role
To play this month. and we cannot pick
him out with unaided vision. lie is in the
constellation of the Bull about five de-
groes north of the bright star Aldebaran, I
in the Bulls eye.
Mercury arrives at the extreme eastern !
swing of his pendulum on the q. and for !
two or three evenings before and after
that date we shall see him for short time |
about five degrees to the right OF the sun !
set point, his steady light marking him .
conspicuously among the twinklers form !
ing his setting.-New York Times.
SENATOR PROCTOR FOR CHAIRMAN. |