The sun., 1898-11-28
NIGHT STARS
The Grandest display Of the Year
Among the Celestial
Luminaries.
TOTAL ECLIPSE Of THE MOON
This Important Event Will Occur
December 27 and Will be Visible
to the Naked Eye-.Partial
Eclipse Of the
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON

months Of the year in the variety and
beauty of it's presentation Of celestial
phenomena. The great events of the
month are the pas ing Of Venus from
the evening to the morning realm Of
stars, the clipse of the sun nn tho 18th
and OF the moon on the 9th, and the
beginning OF astronomical winter on the
2lst. While all of these events are not
visible to the undraped optic, some Of
them are.
The sun enters the sign Capricornus on
the 2lst and begins his journey north,
which requires three months to accom-
plish before he reaches the half. way sta
tion on the ''line Of march," At the
time OF touching the utmost limits of
southern declination the days are of their
minimum length and the shadow OF
night no longer encroaches upon the
light Of the day. The patti Of the winter
sun lies low in the heavens, the short
days hasten gloomiy to their close, the
sable pail Of night tails darkly over the
earth, and feeling Of nesolatiun mingles
with sorrow over the receding light. But
it is only for little while that the sun
seems to stand etil in his course. u.
When December closes three minutes
have been added to the days length,
and when the last afternoon of the year
passes, the earth, in periheI,on is 80 o.
600 miles nearer the sun than in July,
and the great day star, in nearer vicinity,
is mildly temp, ring the winters cold
Tor the inhabitants of the north temper
ate zone. The star.lit december sky is
superb, for 1t is graced by the most beau.
tlful stars and consultations that are
ever seen by mortal eyes, and when the
December tull moon runs hgh' the
celestial picture is ennobling and upift-
ing.
1t is at this season that we find Sirius,
the dog star, and Aldebaran pointing to
the reckless Pleiades, well above them in
the heavens. Beneath them hangs
Orion, which gorgeous constellation
never burns more wildly than at pres
ent, as it swings itself forth above the
rim of the landscape. The famous Twins
Castor and PoIlux) almost rest on the
horizon, the square of Pegasus Is in the
northwest, while far away Vega sparkles
like lamp suspended amid eatless trees
and shows u, the way to ", ere the
chair OF Cassiopeia stands daintily
poised
The eclipse OF the sun occurs on the
18th, but will not be visible in this
country.
The moon is much more gracious thai.
this III tile Wa She treats us on the 9th.
On hat date she is in total eclipse, and
tie phenomenon will be generally visl.
bic throughout Moth and South Ampri.
Ca, Europe, Asia and Africa. The deep
Shadow III which tine moon will be en-
gulled on tI.at date has diameter that
Is more than Il third larger tlan that Of
the moon l,sef. From the time the moon
enlers the outer shadow until it energes
once more, clear and bright, a period OF
more than SIX hours will have elapsed,
while the total eclipse will aet fully an
hour and Il half.
There are the usual number of con.
functions during the mouth in which
planets and moon take part, Tut will, the
exception ufan occunatlon with Mercury
On Tie 18th, there is nothing very well
worthy ol special mention. Mars begins
and ends the series, while Jupiter
Venus, Uranus, Saturn, Mercury, anc
Neptune are visited in their proper turns
Venus on December !, Is in inferior
conjunction with the sun, and after that
Joins tle morning stars, where she vii
shortly appear as Jupiter's most forlnid
able rIval. On the 18th, the day before
the new moon, the waning crescent
meets Venus, but as neither body Cal
De seen by US there is but very little t,
be said.
Mars, having distinguished himself al
being twice in conjunction with the
moon, plays but small part in tht
mouths program.
Saturn ls also in conjunction with tn,
sun, the event taking place on the 6tn
50 that afler that the nnged planet vii
again be cassed among the murlin.
Stars, where 1t will remain for severa
months.
Jupiter is naw found rising almos
three hours ahead of the sun, from
which he is drawing away further AM
further each Succeeding day. He is nov
Lord OF the Dawn, and holds his pac
Tor several weeks to come without lea
Of a rival until Venus emerges from, IL,
suns powerful rays. Uranus and Venu
have very close meeting on the lOti,
which proves that the far.off planet
also morning star.
Nedtune is IN opposition with the su
on the 18th, and 81 ends the month an
year by being almost the only one lei
!, to be called All evening star He is il
conjunction with the moon on tbs 26,l
: Mercury swings az far to the east ward o
.. . the 81 as his tether will let him, an
then drawing once more toward the sl
is IN inferior conjunction on the 2ls,
after which lie, too, is morning s,al