Evening journal., 1898-03-04
The Slow But Incessant
Changes in Astronomy.
POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS
TWO CONSULTATIONS, ARGO
NAvIS AND CANCER. WILL
COME TOGETHER ABOUT 8
O'CLOCK IN MARCH EVENINGS.

equator, she will reach 1t at 9.06 a. M, |
eastern standard time, ON the 2Oth, ana |
pass during the month through the eX- |
tenslve arc of degrees II minutes |
north of the equator. 1t cannot be too I
strongly impressed upon the |
reader that the motion of not only the |
sun, but of all celestial bodies Is not |
uniform and cannot be SO, as none |
moves in a circle Even If the earth |
in its orbital and consequently the |
sun N its apparent motion in the |
ecliptic were circular, neither the mo-
tion in declination nor i'm right ascen- |
sion could be uniform, as the plane OF |
the ecliptic is inclined to the plane of !
the equator at an oblique angle, called
the obliquity OF the ecliptic, upon which |
the seasons of the year depend
THE EARTH's PATH
We often hear such expressions as
the path of the earth being fixed in
space. There are few, il amy, things in
The domain of astronomy that can be
called fixed in space. In fact, there are
unceaslng changes going ON, but these
changes are generally so slow as to es-
cape the notice of a superficial OBJ
server, and fortunately they are peri
odic, so that they fall Within the possi-
bility of computation. The earths path
is not fixed since the ecliptic changes
It's position among the stars, in conse-
quence of which the obliquity of the
ecllptic undergOes very slow change
| At present it Is a few seconds more
| than 23 degrees 27 minutes, but in
about $4,000 years it will be reduced TO
% degrees 10 seconds, after which il
I rnfTI 10 In, ,ftI IN, 4.
change is so slow and within such mar
row limits that 1t cannot produce a
sens BILE alteration in the seasons. As
10 the physical means of sustaining
life on the earth there cannot be amy
doubt that, of all the pursuits TO which
man can devote himself agriculture ie
the most important Agriculture is
only possible under conditions that de-
pend upon the seasons, which, as we
have said before, depend upon the relaI
tive position Of the ecliptic to the
earth's axis, or which amounts TO the
same thing, to the equator.
Now, here presents itself a highly in
teresting problem, viz: What would
be tine most advantageous position of
the ecliptic to the equator in order to
produce the most advantageous effect
upon the solid and tillable portion Of
the surface of the arth for the pro
ductOn OF all things that maintain
physical life? A much larger, ais we'll
as a much smaller, angle than the
actually existing one between the
planes OF the ecliptic and the equator
would produce very material changes
in the seasons and the climate, and
the question is whether such changes
would ameliorate or deteriOrate these
conditions which are necessary for
mans production of the necessaries of
life? The answer is that with the ac-
tuaily existing obliquity Of the ecliptic
maximum benefit Is attained, 50 that
in this case, as she does in all other
cases. nature has chosen the happy and
golden medium. To benefit the most is
the ideal OF all motives, and here again
nature sets us an example worthy of
imitation. And IL cannot be otherwise
for ature is controlled by an all-wise
and benefcent Creator. Who. in His
loving care for us, has ordered and ar
ranged all Things so as to be Of the
greatest possible benefit for us.
, POSITION OF THE PLANETS.
The planet Mercury win be in Capri
, oornus at the beginning in Aquarius
about the middle and in Pisces at tht
end of tho month. Venus will be al
first in Aquarius, but during ths
greater portion Of the month in Pisces
She will shine as an evening star
though during the month Of March sh,
win yet be too close to the sun x
shine long in the evenings. The reader
, has probably noticed that the planets
! Mercury and Venus are to be found, II
/ OILS f,,
boring zOdiacal consultations. The
{ reason for this, however, is plain, as
! they are both near the sun and cannot
! consequently, be at vast distances
I from each other. Since they are in.
ferior planets-that is, such as have
I their orbits within that of the earth
they can only be in conjunction ant
never in oppositiOn-hence, they can,
not be a quarter Of the heavens oppo-
site to that in which the sun happens
! | to be- Mars is in Capricorn, but 10.
ward the termination of the month viii
enter the confines of AQuarius Ths
) great planet Jupiter, which is still in
! Virgo. will act at first as a morning
star, but in the latter portion OF tht
\ | month begin to shine as an evening
star, so that before long the two bright,
q est OF all the planets of our solar sys-
4 tenn win adorn the evening skies with
their wondrous lustre. Saturn, in con
: sequence of its slow motion among th'
y stars, is still in Scorpio, and will NO.
be seen under favorable circumstance
before several months have elapsed
Mars and all others of tine so-called su
perior planets-that is, such as have
their orbits without that Of the eartl
r can be both in conjunction and oppo
ei'tlom and may, therefore be seen a.
any time of the might
THE CONSULTATIONS.
The two considerations Argo Navi,
D and Cancer will come to the meridian
sibou1 O'Clock in The March evenings
4 ArgO Navis, or the ship Argo, so calle,
D after the ship in which Jason and hi
9 companions sailed from Greece TO Col
chis to seek the golden fleece, reall.
be,ongs to Those southern coneteila
! TONS Of which in our latitude only
a portion can be seen; but Il Is importan
a ard Interesting constellation that
\ description Of it is by NO means cut G