Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-06-10
THE SKIES IN JUNE.

the more oppressive And screening neat
of summer.
The first of the month the suns de-
~clination was % degrees, 4 minutes and
on the last will be % degrees, 7 min
utes, thus ranging during the month
over an arc of only l degree, 3minutes,
while for the previous month it rang
ed over an arc OF 6 degree, so minutes.
This shows how much slower the SUMS
motion in declination becomes the
closer it approaches the sOlsticeS. The
sun enters the sign Cancer on the Goth
of this month. This is the summer
~soltice, and the first day Of summer in
the astronomical year. This is the
longest day in the year in the northern
hemisphere. The Mort Pole is now at
its greatest inclination to the sun and
enjoys a continual day during this
complete revolution of the earth on its
axis. While the unequal rate of the
suns motion in declination-that is,
! north and south of the equator-is
great, it is not more so than its appar-
ent motion in right ascension, which
is also due to the same cause-viz., the
earth's orbital motion.
Therefore, measuring time by it
proves unsatisfactory both for practi-
cal and scientific purposes, and hence
mean solar time has beer selected.
Just imagine a fictitious sun moving at
a uniform rate in a line of the equator,
and making a complete circuit in the
same time as the real sun performs its
circuit. Sometimes this fictitious sun
will be ahead Of the real sun and
sometimes behind it. The difference
between these two times is called the
equation of time, amounting at most to
about 16 minutes, and from that down
TO nothing. The time denoted by this
fictitious sun is known as mean solar
time, while the real sun gives what is
known as apparent solar time. Mean
solar and apparent solar time coincide
four times a year-viz.: April 18th,
| June 14th, September LIST and December
23d; while the greatest difference be-
tween the two occurs on February 10th,
May 14th, July 26th and November I'd.
To find the time of day by means of
the suns dial we have to correct the
latter by means of the equation of
time, which IS given for every day in
the year in many OF the almanacs now
published. Sometimes this equation OF
time is to be added and at other times
to be subtracted.
Thus on August LIST, when the suns
dial indicates apparent noon, the mean
solar time will be about 6 minutes
past for on that day the equation Of
time is 6 minutes and is to be added.
Thus, for another example, when the
suns dial indicates apparent noon on
October LIST, the equation of time for
that day, which is about 10 minutes,
will have to be subtracted in order TO
find mean time.
The suns apparent motion in right
ascension and ~declination, especially
the latter, is of the highest Importance
to science, as the very seasons depend
on it. The suns motion in declination
also shows why the points of the suns
rising and setting on the horizon vary
so greatly. If We wish to find the exact
point on the horizon when the sun
rises or sets for any particular day,
we will have to know the sun declina-
ton for that day and also the latitude
of the place Of observation.
The queenly Venus is still our even
ing star, and reaches the height of her
brilliancy on the first of the month.
She is 0 situated at a point just be-
low the two bright stars, Castor and
Pollux, forming with those stars a
pretty triangle.
She reyerses her motion in her orbit
on the 18th of the month, and then
commences to travel towards the sun.
losing in brilliancy and setting earlier
each evening until she entirely disap-
pears from Il view when she becomes
into inferior conjunction with the sun
on he Sth Of next month; after which
she becomes our morning star.
The ancients did not recognize Ven
us, the evening star, to be one and the
same body as Venus the morning star,
but thought they were different planets.
and accordingly gave them different
names, calling the evening star Hes
perus, and the morning star Lucifer.
The fiery red planet Mars has now be-
come quite a conspicuous object in the
morning skies. He is daily increasing
his distance from the sun, and there
fore coming into a position more fav-
orable for observation. On June 23d
he may be seen about four degrees to
the south. of the Pleiades, at which
time he rises about 2:45 a. m. AS
soon as the evening twilight deepens
Jupiter may be seen shining with great
lustre some distance above the eastern
horizon. Jupiter's claim to the rank of
king of the planetary host is far be-
yond dispute, and it is no wonder the
Romans designated him as the god of
the air.
Our interest in this planet has been
recently intensified by the confirmation
of the reported discovery of a fifth sa-
tellite. Jupiter continues to favor us
with his presence until the small hours
OF the morning, setting about the time
mars arises. Saturn will be in opposi-
ton to the sun on the 23d of June. at
which time he is at his greatest brill
liancy. He now rises about the time
the sun sets.
Thus are the June skies particularly
honored by the presence OF a brilliant
array of planets.
Looking skyward about 9 o'clock
during the evening of this month. we
see brilliant Arcturus directly over
head. The Great Bear has passed the
meridian, and slowly crawling beneath
the North Star. CAMS Minor. Auri-
ga, Perseus and Gemini will set ere
the end of the month. and thus the last
OF the winter consultations will dis
appear from the heavens. Far down
in the southwestern horizon we see the
Crater, with the Crow just a little TO
the paEr nf ~ The r-zvv - -~.-ff