The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-12

ST Der HEAVENS.
Month Of Autumnal Equinox, When he
Harvest Noon Delights The Eye.
THE MOVEMENTS OF THE PLANETS
How the sun Crosses tho EquInoctinl
3js -Mcrcury'a Rapid OsciiIation from
Morning to Evening Sinr-Jupitcr
Brilliant Spectacle From Dis.
tnnt Uranus.
New York Times.)

! New York Times.)
September's notable astronomical
feature will be the harvest moon and the
crossing Of the equinoc,ial by the sun.
The full moon which occurs nearest the
autumnal equinox Is popularity termed
the harvest moon.r On September 10th
the moon will be full. This Is twelve
days before the equinox. which occurs
this year on the 22nd, and as It is near
est tho equinox than the following full
moon we are clearly entitled TO give
1t tho honor OF being called harvest
moon The popularity OF the full moon
which comes nearest the autumnal cqui-
nox is that 1t rises nearly the same time
aor several nights in succession.
a fuil moon always rises about the
time tho sun sets, but the evening fol-
lowing the day on which the moon
reaches Its full stage It rises after sun
BET at periods ranging from few min
utes to more than an hour, depending on
season and latitude. The intervals are
shorter with September moons than
with those OF other months. The differ
ence OF tlme between successive risings
OF the moon after sunset, comparing
September with March, the month when
the yern1l equinox occurs, practically
disappears around the equator and in
crcases with tho distance from that
time.
Around the time Of the autumnal equl-
nox the angles between the planes OF the
horizon and that OF the ccliptlc, or Of
tho path which the earth traverses in
Its yearly Journey around the sun. IS
smaller than 1t is Mt other times dur
Ing the year. This Is why the moon OF
that period seems to rise about the
same time for several successive nights
In England most Of the crops are ga tn
~, f,,Ir
OF that time, which comes up for scv-
eral evenings just after sunset. leaving
only brief Interval OF darkness, was
once deemed to be a special provision
OF Providence to enable the farmers to
continue their work onward into the
night without interruption, and thus It's
popularity became known as the har-
vest moon.
MOON AND THE PLANETS.
In September the moon quarters on
the ard, is full on the 10th, reaches Its
last quarter on the 18th, and new moon
comes In on the goth. There are no very
close conjunctions between moon and
planet In September, burt such as they
are begin on the End. when the moon
meets Uranus and shortly afterward
Saturn, neither of which savors Of par
ticular Interest. Both OF these are re-
peated lar In the month, on the 29th,
but with no improved scenic effect. On
the 18th the crescent that begins to fade
on that day from Its last quarteving,
meets Neptune, which passes some five
degrees to the southwark. and. as we
know, Is not visible to our natural Wis
ion. Venus OH the 23rd comes somewhat
closer. and In the morning skies we
should have q pretty tnbleau, Jupiter
and Mercury are visited on the 25th
but all three bodies are too much under
the influence OF old Sol to be easily
distinguished. and so we come to Mars.
which on tho day following the new
moon passes almost six degrees north,
and so he, too, Is not helping our pic
lures
Twice each year-around March 81
and September 22-the sun Is said to
cross the equlnoctial, or cross the line"
When the sun crosses the line 1t Is In
the zenith OF all places on the equator
at noon. Consequently Its rays reach
from one pole to the other On or about
the dates mentioned each year the sun
Is above the horizon Of every point Of
the earth. and. approximately. for the
same length of time MS 1t is below the
horizon, so that, at that time, making
no allowance for refraction. the days
md nights are about equal In dura ton
On September % the siX-mcn.hs day a,
the north pole will end and the six
months night begin, while at the south
pole these conditions will be reversed.
JUPITER AS MORNING STAR.
Jupiter Is In conjunction with the sun
on the 18th. and when it reappears It
Will be heraided in the day in The car
~ morning sky. A challenge Is by this
Issued to Venus, whose supreme reign as
sovereign Will be disputed so vigorously
that the fair queen will ultima ely be
forced to cross the line of separation
between morning and evening stars.
only to appear however rs the chief at
traction of the heavens soon after the
sun has sunk to rest. From now until
the close OF the year Jupitcr's size and
orilliancy will be on the increase, and
he VIII be most beautiful object to
gaze upon In the rosy hue OF carly dawn
Mercury Is also In conjunction this
month, but the event happens so much
more frequently with this planet than
with Its fellows that it has
hardly the same interest to us.
After the conjunction the planet
continues ON It's road to the far western
portion of Its swing. and takes rank
among the morning stars. The con-
junction between planet and the sun is
what Is called inferior, that is, the plan
ct passes between the sun and us. by
Its rapid motion Mercury seems 10 play
hide and seek with us. It appears only
again to disappear, shines for a moment
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