The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-07
THE SKY IN JULY.
Earth is the Greatest Distance From the
Sun on the Fourth.

In the month of July the planets Mars,
Jupiter and Saturn are all conspicuous in
the evening, and Venus in the morning.
Mercury may be seen in the evening the
greater part of the month. Uranus is
also in the evening sky, while Neptune
attends Venus in the early morning.
OF the evening planets Mars is the far
thest westward. 1t is in the constella-
ton Leo, moving rapidly toward the
| east. Having passed Regulus in the
month of June, it is now Fastening TO-
| ward Sptca, the brightest star in the
\ neighboring constellation Virgo. 1t is
noticeably fainter than a few months ago,
/ but is still the brightest object in the
western sky, outshining Regulus and de-
| tected by it's strong red color. 1t sets on
the 1st at 1926 p. m. and on the Slst at
9.OS D. m.
Jupiter is the most brilliant star in the
evening sky and cannot be mistaken for
any other. The bright star west of it is
Spica, from which it is slowly separating
as it moves toward the east. On. the
Path it is exactly 80 degrees distant from
the sun, crossing the meridian at about
sunset and setting before midnight. On
the 1st it sets at 1890 a. m. AS the
planet is visible in the evening only, it
is not possible to observe many of the
transits of its satellites and their sha-
dowS during the whole time when they
are crossing the planets disk. The fol-
lowing evenings are the best this month
for noting these events for part of their
duration: Second, the shadow of satellite
IL IN transit, to Il p; m; 9Th, satellite e
L and its shadow in transit until 10. As
p. m; 18TH satellite l and it's shadow in
transit after p. MI 23d, satellite II and
It's shadow in transit until the planet sets;
18th, satellite l and its shadow in transit
until the planet sets.
Saturn is in excellent position for OBJ
servation; it is in the south and is east
the constellation Scorpio. Seen through
the telescope its rings are inclined at
their greatest angle. The southern edge
OF the. ring hides the south pole of the
OF the planet lies in front of the northern
edge of the ring. Faint streaks resem-
bling the belts of Jupiter may be seen
crossing the ball of the planet near its
equator. The planet is moving slowly to-
ward the west or toward the red star
Anatares, and is in the constellation
Ophiuchus.
Mercury is east of the sun, and there
fore in the evening sky. 1t is emerging
gradually from the suns rays and by the
10tn OF the month may be seen in the twl-
light after sunset. On the I'D 1t is at its
greatest apparent distance from the sun,
81 degrees. The planet is only about one
half as bright at this elongation as at its
most favorable position, but it should be
found readily about three-quarters of an
boar after the sua has set, above the
sunset point on the horizon.
Venus is drawing near the sun and can
only be seen for a short time before sun
on the 3lst at 1884 a. M, little more than
an hour before the sun.
The planet Neptune is near Venus and
may be found with 1 telescope from its
position, which on the list is right ascen-
sion 5h 3Sm and destination n. % degrees
minutes On the 9Th Venus overtakes
and passes Neptune, the two planets sep
arated from each other by 46 minutes
Uranus may be found in the evening
sky from its position, which on the LIST
IS 16h lin and declination S. q degrees
m. It is in excellent position for
telescope observation, except that 1t is
SO far south that it is low down in the
tudes.
The earth is at its greatest distance
from the sun on the 4th. A knowledge of
this fact may be a consolation even if
thermometers seem to be ignorant of it.
The varying distance of the earth from
the sun has less marked effect upon the
temperature than upon the length of the
seasons. When the earth is at a great
distance 1t moves slower and thus the
season is prolonged. For our northern
ATTITUDES the seasons thus prolonged are
the spring and summer, while the autumn
and winter are shortened. The sun crossed
the equator going north on the goth of
March and will cross it going south on
the I'D of September, an interval of 1856
days. The interval until the goth of March,
l9U0, when the sun again comes north, is
seven days longer than our autumn and
| winter. Each of these periods is slightly
| milder in temperature, less hot in summer
| and, less cold in winter, because of the
suns greater distance in the former and
less distance in the latter season.
The moon at the beginning of the
month rises in the early morning. On the
9Th it passes Venus and Neptune. on the
18th it is new. 1t passes Mercury on the
9th, going 5 degrees south of it, Mars on
the 18th, Jupiter on the 18th, Uranus on
the 18th, Saturn on the 18th. On the 22d
It is full and reaches last quarter on the
The considerations visible in the eve
ming sky are less brilliant than those of
Bootes, Corvus, Ursa MAJOR. East of the
meridian are Scorpio, Sasittarius Serpens
0phiuchus, Corona, Borealis, Hercules,
| milky way is in the eastern half of the
| sky. extending from Sagittarius to Cas-
| siopela.
The most interesting astronomical
event of recent weeks is the rediscovery
of Holmes comet of 1892. 1t is too faint
to be seen except with large telescopes,
but IT will be observed with care because
| it was one of the most interesting comets
| ever observed. When discovered, seven
years ago. it was near the nebula in An
dromeda and somewhat resembled it. II
was thought at first to be a portion OF
Biela's comet, which broke up into
meteors 40 years ago, as it was in the
| right direction, and a collision with the
earth was predicted. But it was soon
in a path which has brought 1t into our
vicinity once more. 1t was a large
hazy mass, which, after receding from
| the sun, most unexpectedly increased in
brightness as if it had been the victim
of some catastrophe. 1t underwent sew
eral noticeable changes in its appearance
\ before IT became too faint to be longer
observed. 1t belongs to Jupiter's family
of comets: that is, 1t is one of a number
| of comets which have been introduced
into, our system by the great attraction
| of that giant planet.
| The month of July witnesses the short.
ening of the DAYS which betokens the
coming autumn. The days decrease ii
| length 43 minutes, "a of which are taker
from the morning and 10 from the after