Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-11

otcer, in the northwest: Regulus, Of the
Lion, in the south, and Spici, of the Nir-
gin, also in the southwest: while Arctucus
of the CoHherd, which came into view in
the evening sky early In APRIL is in the
east and we'll up toward the zenith. These
will be the approximate positions of the
stars named early in the evenings OF the
first week in May.
Within the past two or three weeks an
other first magnitude star has come into
the field of vision early in the evening.
This is Vega, of the constellation of the
Tyre, which may now be seen swinging
into sight In the northeast about two
hours afteC sunset. BEFORE the month
ends. the constellation of the Eagle, with
the magnificent first magnitude star AL
tair near the centre, will appear in the
east. Early in the evening. and about the
same time, low in the southeast the splen-
did Antares OF the star group of the
Scorpion, will come into view.
| The sun the moon. and the planets have
| for "A long time been designated by certain
signs, some of which are of very ancient
oe'igin Tho sign of the sun presents a
disk and was used for thousands of years
among the Egyptians. That If the moon
| repre- Jents the lunar crescent which We
| find was in use among all nations from
remote antiquity. The sign of Mercury
| has for its origin the caduceus; that Of
I Venus a mirror, or the marx Of fecundity,
by using circle and a crossed arrow: that
of Mars has as origin lance; that Cf Ju-
piter the first letter of Zeus. while that
Of Saturn represents a scythe. We find
these used by the Gnostics and alchemstS
from the tenth century onward. In the
seventeenth century they began 10 con-
slider the earth as "A planet and gave to it
the sign of globe surmounted by cross.
In the eighteenth century the discovery
| of Uranus added new planet to the sys
TEN, which was designed by u symbol re-
calling the letter II, as heing the initial
Of Hes schel. The discovery of Neptune in
1916 added a new symbol the trident of the
sea god
| Venus is still morning star and rises
some two hours and quarter ahead of
the sun. where she shines most attrac-
lively until broad daylight. This beauti-
| ful planet Is always of peculiar interest
| TO beginners. q 8 II shows different phases.
corresponding to the positions which it oc-
cupies round the sun. with relation TO us.
A telescope of modern power Is sufficient
to show them. The best hours for exam
lining Venus ian a telescope are those of
daylight. In the night the irrad'ation
produced by their brilliant light prevents
US from distinguishing clearly the out
lines of these phases.
! Mercury also a morning star, reaches Its
greatest elongation on the Sth, when II
turns and again approaches the sun. This
is one of the periods in its course in which
on can see the planet, Just a snort viii e
before sun up, where il shines, not far
above the eastern horizon. almost as large
as the first magnitude stars. 1t cannot
depart more than twenty-five degrees
fSom the sun, nor be separated more than
two hours from 1t, so that even at its
times of greatest elongation 1t is quick
~ lost in the twilight's glare.
Neptune remains an evening star until
the middle Of June, when it Is In conjunC-
ton with the sun, and then becomes a
morning star. On the day of conjunction
with the moon. the 18th, the two heavenly
bodies are less than two degrees apart,
the planet being to tho southwark, so W.
may from this form some general idea
of Neptune's whereabouts. Mars is also
AN evening star and is moving slowly to-
wasd conjunction. which phase II will not
pass through until the year closes. Mars
Is the best known world of the planetary
system, that which comes Immediately
after ours in order of distance from the
sun, and which nature seems TO have
placed in our nelghborhood az an elo-
quent example of her unity OF life and &C
ton
Jupiter. having passed the position OF
opposition, still cheers US up in the even
ing. He Is high over our heads at II 80
and gets there each succeeding night al
an earlier hour When Jupiter shine,
among the stars of the silent night, anc
| when our gaze Is 1Neu upon MN, VINO
would suppose. while admirins the simpl,
luminous point, that he is an enormous
and massive globe, Weighing 800 times
more than the planet which we inhabit
and of which the colossal volume exceed;
by /. 279 times that of our earthP
| Uranus becomes member of new
group of stars on the Tth, on which date
il Is in opposition with the sun, and W,
have IL At its largest for the year Seer
from Uranus, the starry sky Is the sam,
rs seen from here, but not so the solal
system. Mercury and fair Venus are alb
solutely unknown there AMI We may, rot
withstanding the regrets which such {
conclusion may occasion, say the same o.
the earth.
Saturn and the full moon are in commune
ton on the 18th. speaking astronomically
The slowness of Saturn's motion and thu
tint of it's light made it foT the anciont
an unlucky planet. 1t was. indeed, cen
sidered the gravest of stars tod de
'thyoned and ba'ished INTO sort of exile