The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-17
THE HEAVENS IN JUNE
SPLENDORS OF THE MOON IN THE
EARLY SUMMER
Mars joys Along as an Early Morning
Star-Jupiter fastening Toward
the Sun

vi tnSSC lOul iuSttiu6S HOt OHS 10 "a oAy
especial interest to us. Mars is visited on
the 18th, but most too distantly for our pur-
poses, and the same can be said of Mercury
on the 18th and of Neptune the day follow
is barely presentable as a tableau in con-
nection with the moon on the 21st, and Ju-
piter on the Goth Is not in it at all. The beau
tiful full moon on the 4th is we'll down in
wrested the sceptre from the day we shall
have her going along with lantern lit al
most with the power of daylight until the
latter again appears to show how every
thing pales before it.
Uranus Is still ranked among the evening
stars, and shines among the stars that COM
pose the group of the Scorpion. Perhaps
these far-distant diamond points may be
planet there than we are permitted to have
If so they have treat that should make us
envy them. For, while Venus Is in com.
parison like ball about an inch in diameter.
Uranus Is like large orange in size, and
would add immensely to our gallery OF
beautiful twinkers If we could but have 1t
one-quarter that size. There is nothing to
help us this month in finding the exact
whereabouts of the planet, as everything
that could serve as a guide to locate him Is
all too far away.
Saturn having finished being in opposi-
ton, will become an evening star. Just at
present we have him in all his glory coming
above the horizon as the sun disappears
and presenting himself where we can best
observe him From now on he dwindles a
bit in size, and will not seem as brilliant,
and so we shall not have very many more
occasions this year in which Saturn will
play a principal role.
Even could we under ordinary circum-
stances have view Of the planet named in
honor the god who reigns supreme on the
ocean, we should not at this period of his
journey be permitted to have look at him,
for he is just about IN conjunction with the
sun. When he energies on the other side he
will be one of the morning stars. Some ive
days after this event the waning crescent
of the moon encounters Neptune few
hours before its light is extingulshed and
the relief watch brought by the new moon
is called to take its place, Four days later
there is a meeting between Mercury and
Neptune, but we now know how little OF
interest such events have to us when Meth
er actor can be seen.
Mars is jogging along as an early morn
ing star toward the position of quadrature,
which he will reach some time in october.
While comparatively insignificant to us just
at present there. ia sou much Of the latent
contained in this ruddy disk that our inter-
est will not flag until we can get him in such
favorable position and of such size to tell
us more about the wonderful things he con-
tains.
In the character and variety of the bless
ings 1t bestows no month IN all the year
is as rich as June. First on the list Is the
summer sostice, the elimination or SOAR
glory for all who dwell north of the tropics.
This occurs early on the 21st, when the sun
enters the sign Gemini and astronomical
summer begins. At this period the sun Is
said to stand still for several days, and
such is the case according to common OBJ
ervation and the figure in the ordinary al
manacs, where only the degrees and min
utes are given IT, however, the computa-
ton is carried to still further nicely and
to lengths that are only interesting to the
professional computer, 1t will be found that
the sun moves an almost irappreciable dis =.
lance.
When the sun in its furthest northern
movement grazes the Tropic of Cancer a
considerable change begins. Not one sec
ond further north does he move, not one
second earlier does he rise. Days will pass
before the decrease in the length of the
day amounts to minute, or before the SUMS
lessening altitude is perceptibe to the un-
trained eye. But the change though slow,
is sure, and early in July observers will
plainly perceive that the days are shorter
and that the sunrise and sunset points are
going to the right and left respectively. The
great empty streets are already flooded
with broadening clearness at an early hour
and long before the getting-up bell warns
US of the duties of the day the glorious light
of the sun has pierced to the very cellars
lying in the narrow high back alleys. In
the country it is fascinating to watch the
beautiful colors of the eastern sky where
Gods great pictures Of the morning are
hung and see them melt into each other
like the variegated Innings of a seashell.
The suns journey southwark is not with
out its compensations in the earlier por-
tons Of its progress. The celestial machin-
cry does not always move by line and
plummet, but its gradations succeed each
other like dissolving views. While the days
shorten, the heat increases from the stores
Of garnered sunshine, flowers deepen in
coloring, harvests ripen and the whole earth
In the perfection of development pays trib-
ute to the all-powerful sum- whose beams
Weakened to life her slumbering energies and