Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-07
HEAVENS IN JULY.
The Moons Phases and Other Astro-
nomical Information.

July's warm nights will be taken adj
vantage Of by the amateur astrono-
mcrs and more observations will be
made than at any other time in the
year: the star gazing won't be done
altogether by persons of studious in
tent. however. for during the season Of
shirt waist girls and in the hammock
time which is now on. the heavens
are frequently pccred into by those
who have not the slightest knowledge
Of the celestial bodies. This last class,
as well as students. may have an
easier task. after the following from
the Scientific American. is read.
At 10 p. NJ, on July H. the constrlla-
tons Of summer are visible to great
advantage.
The Milky Way forms a great arch
across the east. with one foot almost
under the pole and the other In the
extreme south; and along its line are
the consultations described last
month.
The present is a good time to note
the complex structure of the Galaxy.
From Cygnus t. the southern horizon
il is divided into two streams of I'M
equal brightness and variable width
with several marked CONVERSATIONS
and knots, Of which the brightest are
III Sagittarius. near the southern hori-
ION.
In the northwest appears the Great
Bear, standing on his head and the
west is lighted by Arcturus and
Spica, the latter being near its setting
The southern consultations Scorpio
and Sagittarius are at their highest
above our horizon. Scorpio is identi-
fed by the presence If Jupiter within
its borders. and Sagittarius by tine
fainter ana yellower Saturn and also
by the little group of stars called the
Milky Dipper. which, though it is in
the Milky Way, must always be
empty. for it is wrong side up.
In the southeast is a pair of moder-
tteiy bright stars close together which
is worth looking at. They are Alpha
ana Beta Capricorni and are both
luuble. Alpha-the upper one-has a
close companion on the right and a
Fainter and more remote one on the
left. Both are visible to a good eye
without glass. Beta shows in IA field
glass a still closer companion of the
seventh magnitude. With the tee-
scope the stars are much more re-
markable. The companions Of both
Alpha and Beta are double in powerful
telescopes, and the companion of
Alpha is separated by the most pow
arful Instruments into two stars,
Mercury Is in Cancer. and is evening
star TIL the last day of July setting
aoarly two hours after the sun on the
st and easily visible in the evening twi-
light. on the 31st he is in inferior con-
junction with the sun and becomes a
morning star again.
Venus is the evening star at the be-
ginning of the month. but sets only
three-fourths of an hour after sunset
md rapidly approaches the sun. passing
inferior conjunction on the 18th. AS she
passes south of the sun she will be in
visibl" to the unaided eye till late in the
month. when she reappears as morning
star ana rises about an hour before the
sun on Aug. !. Those who have tcIe-
scopes may follow with interest the mar
rowing Of her crescent, and may, per-
hapS, see its extension beyond the half
pt her circumference, due to twilight in
her atmosphere.
Mars is being slowly overtaken by the
earth, but Is still far from opposition.
he moves eastward through Taurus dur
ing the month and rises between two ana
three hours before the sun.
Jupiter is in Scorpio, and is well up in
the southeast at sunset. The belts on his
surface and his satellites are beautiful
the Identification Of the outer two. last
months list Of their positions is con-
tinued.
Satillite III. will be east of Jupiter on
the LIST Sth. 18th. 22d and 18th and west
on the it'll, 1lth, 18th and 18th
Satellite ~. will be east on the 9Th and
Sd. and west on the 18th and 3lst.
Saturn is just past opposition and is
visible throughout the night, but as he is
rs far south as possible and at his great
est distance from the sun the present OPP
position is very unfavorable.
He figures. however, in the most inter-
eSting astronomical event of the month
for American OhSerNerS-an occultation
IN the 10th visible throughout the United
States.
As in the case of Il solar eclipse and for
the same reason. the time of the phenom-
Washington Saturn disappears before tn.