The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-06
THE EVENING STARS.
Five of the Planets are Visible After
Dark

Five Of the planets-Mercury Vents.
Jupiter, Uranus and Saturn-src now
visible as evening stars.
Mercury may be seen low IN the west
soon after sunset-say, 10 or % minutes,
II the sky Is clear-and remains visible
for about an hour. II shines with
clear and steady white light, AID is
equal IN brilliancy 70 one Of the brightest
OF the fixed stars. on the sth Of The
month II will be at its greatest distance
eastward from the sun. and will set over
an hour aad a half later than t. Mer-
curry should continue 10 be visible. wealth
er permitting, until about the middle 81
the month.
Venus has been an evening sta since
February 18th. and though she has not
vet attained 20 her greatest nrilliancy, she
is now a glorious object In the Western
evening sky, far outshining an or tne
fixed stars-merting the tribute paid her
by Homer centuries ago and Endorsed by
every star-gazer since as the most
beautiful star which stands in the
heavens She remains above the hori-
zon until about o'clock setting in the
exact west Seen through a telescope
Venus now presents the phase Jf he
moon day or two before the first quar-
ter
A short distance eastward Of Venus Is
Jupiter. Although markedly inferior In
brlliancy 10 Venus and much less bril-
liant. too, Than when In Opposition on
March 18th. Jupiter IS SIN splendid OBJ
ject, very considerably brighter than any
OF the fixed stars. Venus Is rapidly
oyerhauiing Jupiter. both planets NOV
ing eastward among the stars. and will
pass him on the 18th OF the month. In
the Astronomical pharase. the two planets
will then be I'm conjunction Venus be-
ing then / degree IS minutes--abOut
three diamettrs of the moon-south Of
Jupiter.
Saturn now crosses the meridian at
about sunset. and when he first becomes
visible is slightly west OF south. an about
one-third Of the distance from the horizon
TO the zenith. The planet shines with an
orange-yeliOw light as a star Of the first
magnitude. IL Is the brightest star in
this section OF the heavens. the next
brightest being Antares. decidedly red
star. now at some little distance below
and al the left Of Saturn. As a teles-
c0pic object. Saturn is now at his finest
the rings being open nearly TO their Wild
est and showing beautifully-a spectacle
which. unfortunately. Is likely 10 be be-
yond the readers reach. for II requires
telescope Of some little power 10 see Sat-
urn IN Ills lMAA p lUA -NAAAAAhtAa NaAi'
planet poses for us for weeks as an even
ing star. and yet how few persons there
are who know anything Of IT'S magnih-
cence except from description and pic
lures,
short distance westward from Saturn
IS Uranus, shining as star rather below
the sixth magnitude, and, therefore, be-
yond the reach OF any except the very
keenest eye. IL can easily be seen with
an opera-gass. however. A short dis
lance west OF Saturn IS a quite conspicu-
Gus star. the uppermost OF a line OF three
OF about the same brillancy. Uranus IS
about three degrees 10 the right OF this
star When this star is brought 10 the
centre OF the field OF an opera-glass, the
planet will be very near the right-hand
edge OF the field.
Mars IS now a morning star. rising at
about 1880 A. NJ. little north or east.
About three-quarters OF an hour east OF
Mars is Neptune the outermost OF the
planets. appearing as a star OF the tenth
magnitude, and requiring 10 see 1t
3-inch telescope, at the least.