The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-09
MOVEMENTS OF THE SUN.

The sun cbmcs above the horizon on
the first OF the month at about 1870
O'Clock and the regal gust departs from
the western portion OF the circle at
ahoHt lAo o'clock, giving us something
over ID hours Of sunlight when the
month begins, which Is shortened to IA
hours y minutes al its close the loss
coming from the later rising by %
minutes, and ohe earlier setting by ~
minutes. The suns dcclination on the
Hrst Is % degrees minutes north
from this we see that the sun travels
almost degrees to the southwark dur
ing the month, but still remains in north
declnatton. He Is apparently moving
al a more rapid pace, as may be seen by
the movement southward Of the sunrise
and sunset points, and the lower meri-
dian altitude Of the sun. On the Goth
thcre VIII he an annular eclipse OF the
sun. visible III Washington as a partial
eclipse.
The moon quarters on the eth. fulIs on
the 18Th has the phase Of last quarter
on the list the new moon coming in
on the 29th
While there are no very close lunar
oJnJuncinns with the planets in July
tie planets themselves come very clos.
20 cach Mh2r IN two instances The
c.2Sei' conjunction take Places on the ~
when Mars and Jupite. are the chief
actors, while on the 2Sth their places are
taken by Venus and Neptune, which
meeting IS not as picturesque as the
others.
e'!cury on the 18th finds itself in con
junction with the sun. and after thar il
begins the half Of its swing that carries
- iuFther 10 the east. and we have 1t as
On evening star and at about the s,n,a
time the planet is furthercst from mo
sun we can begin to try and find his
bright disk shining for a short While az
'er the sun has sunk to rest While il ;s
Eo' practicable 10 lay down within rea-
Sonahie limits any general rule fo,. f,,d-
.is the planet, the student who is de-
s ~ 'aiii'so 70 see Mercury will generally
succeed with q little patienca Tho
spring months are cSpeciaIIy suitable q.
me elevation of Mercury above tho hori
con IS usually greater than at other aen
HphS' ana IN the evening twilight abou,
thres-duarters Of an hour after sunset
view OF ms shy but beautiful object
VIII reward the Observers attention
Though Mercury is really much Ia,.oa,
man me moon, vet it is so,very far off
liiat lis telescope appearance Is ins{p
n!hcam. There is, however, one feature
IN le!escopic view which would i'm
.neolhteiy attract attention. Mercury is
.hch seen, not usually as n circular OBJ
i.c', but more or less crescent shaped
IKE miniature moon. The phases OF
"ieFcufS are also TO be accounted for
on exactly The same principles as ne
rhases Of the moon
,'upner is slowly and majest,caIly
moving toward The position in which he
VII! Hnd himself III conjunction with The
sun. which event takes place in the carly
GAYS OF September. At prescn, +, Is
ABOUT O'clock in the morning yyhe,
Jupl'er reaches his highest point over
mead. so we still have him with us dur.
ing the night. After he passes the sun
ana becomes morning star, we shall,
not have another view of his face unless
we are up very early in the morning.
oalurn ana the growing moon are In
conjunction on the 10th, but the mcctinr
IS fnr too distant to be termed sociable
ana The scenic effect will hardly repay
cur watching for 1t. Saturn is now
aWindl.nE IN size. and will not be o
particularly striking object in the heav-
ems again this year. The planet Is now
not fur from the line dividing the Bal
'ance, from the Scorpion,