The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-01
FEBRUARY SKIES.

Two of the four eclipses Of the year oc-
cur in February. They will both be in
visible to North America. The first. an
eclipse OF the sun, the 18th, will be
annular to the south polar regions and par
tial to eastern South America and western
South Africa. A partial eclipse of the
moon, its greatest magnitude being 81 per
cent. of the moons diameter, will occur on
the 18th, and will be visible entire to Eu-
rope, Asia and Africa.
The moon will occult the 1.3 star Regulus,
or Leo. on the evening of the 9th, about 6
o'clock, and the occultation will be visible
to observers in the central time belt if the
Eastern horizon is clear.
Six bright gems-Mars, Venus, Saturn,
Spica, Regulus and Jupiter-almost accu-
rately mark the path Of the ecliptic from
southeast to northwest in the morning
sky, and for several days, with the waning
moon for company. they will afford a most
interesting view just before daylight.
The month opens with Mercury, Nep-
tune and Jupiter above the horizon at sun
set. Mercury is rapidly approaching the
sun, will be at inferior conjunction on the
Sth, and by the end Of the month will have
almost reached its greatest western elon-
CATION,
Jupiter is in the constellation Cancer,
and will. apparently, move westward more
than three degrees during the month His
time for rising Is about 400 in the after
noon on Feb. l, and will be half an hour
earlier from week to week. He has passed
opposition, and his satellites now precede
their shadows in transits, and disappear in
occultation and reappear from eclipse
when they pass behind the planet. On the
only two of the four larger satellites will
be visible separate from the planet, Nv
being in transit and 1 in eclipse, and
considerable part of the other visible phe-
nomena connected with his satellites in
February will occur at times favorable for
early evening observation. On the evening
of the 18th Jupiter and the moon will cross
the meridian very nearly together at about
10 o'clock. and will be less than two and
one-half degrees apart in inclination
Venus grows less brilliant from day to
day. Is west of Mars in Sagitarius, and
both are moving eastward. Venus moves
much the fastest, passes one and one-half
degrees north of Mars on the 9Th, and en-
tiers Capricornus on the 22d.
Saturn and Uranus are in Libra. and
the former now crosses the meridian be-
fore sunrise.
The milky way extends across the re-
nrth from southeast to northwest, and
Ursa Major is entirely above the horizon
in the northwest at z o'clock on the first
evenings Of the month. Perseus is directly
overhead. and the Pleiades are crossing
the meridian. The sky east of the merid-
ian at this time shows the most attractive
consultations of the heavens, carrying
Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel Bethelgeuse.
Pollux, Regulus Procyon and Sirius, which
are more than half of the brightest stars
ever seen in this latitude Jupiter. the
giant planet, adds to the splendor of this
eastern group, and Is much brighter than
Sirius, the king of the stellar world. Mira
remains visible to the unaided eye, and the
most favorable times for observing Algol,
near minima, will be at p. m. on the 81
and O'Clock on the evening of the sd.
The discovery Of a new variable star, 1888
Pegasi, with period of only five and
one-half hours, has been recently an
nounced by DIR. Chandler. It's magnitude
varies from s.S to 81. the change being
continuous throughout the period, and it
has been termed 1.-The winking star"
The moon reaches last quarter on the
9Th, at 6:3S in the evening, passes Saturn
and Uranus the next day; Mars and Ve-
nus within half an hour on the 10th, and
becomes a new moon at 1912 on the morn
ing of the 18th, having passed Mercury
few hours before. First quarter occurs on
the 2lst, at 3:14 p. m, and full moon in
the afternoon of the 2Sth, at ISL o'clock
Neptune will be passed on the 22d, and at
tention has already been called to the con-
junction with Jupiter. which will be the
most interesting of the month.
w. p. WAI4LHEISER.
Bedford, Ind Jan. 81.