Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-12-12
THE SKIES IN DECEMBER.

| airy attractions, as we'll rs with the van
| guard OF the fine winter consultations.
| Winter-at least the 10y season of the
calendar-will not commerce until 7 a
m. Of the 22d, when the sun will enter
the sign Capricofnus and the winter
solstice, or standing still of the sun in
its southwark movement along the
horizon, will have been attained.
| 1t is rarely that SO many bright planets
| are grouped together as are now visible
in the western sky for little time
after sunset. On November 18th the
| golden Venus, goddess Of love and
beauty, was in close proximity to Jupiter
and Saturn, and on the 2Sth the latter,
the two greatest of the planets, were in
remarkably close conjunction. the angu-
lar distance between them being but %
minutes--less than the mean angular
diameter Of the full moon. IL has been
exceedingly Pleasing TO view the huge
Jovian orb with It's belted surface and
glittering satellites and the wondrously
ringed Saturnian globe in the same
telescopic field, with the reflection that
ta.though no ordinary telescope is suf-
iic emily powerful to reveal all OF them
contained 10 that field were 16 planetary
worlds, two of them primaries with IA
farther to the westward, and, early in
November. separated from it by but a
single degree, was Uranus-thus, five
OF the major ane.s we're clustered, most
unwonted.y.I IN a little corner of the SKY.
The lingering spirit of sstro' ogy might
we'll be- stimulated to prorhesy strange
terrestrial happenings!
Chinese annals record conjunction
OF four planets and the moon in the
Twonty.fifth Century B.. o. The "Son
OF the Sun, as the Emf er OF China
styles himself, boa ST. celestial pedi-
gree, and one OF his predecessors, who
reigned two millenniums or more before
the Christian era, beheaded the court
astronomers Iii and Ho for their failure
to predict solar eclipse.
Jupiter and Saturn will continue to
be close neighbors throughout the
month, although the distance between
Them will steadily widen. However,
they will soon be lost in tho slight sun
glow for they will reach conjunction
with the sun on January 9th. Their
low altitude, even when they first be-
come visible, precludes satisfactory
telescope definition, but they cannot
but be interesting, 4,
Venus arrived at her greatest eastern
e,ongation on the 4th, when her phase
was exactly that of half-moon. She
was then AZ degrees 10 minutes distant
from the sun. The phase will be more
sharply distinct IF viewed lof course,
telescopioally before the sun sets or i'm
mediately alter, the glare of the planet
in dark sky proving an annoyance 10
all instruments.
Venus is returning towards the sun
and will attain her most brilliant phase
on January 9Th. For several weeks she
has been visible to the unaided eye,
but unless one knows her approximate
position, the eye wanders fruitlessly
over the vast azure field. When near
the moon, and the latter is Visible by
day, the planet can be picked up with
comparative ease.
Uranus will be in conjunction with
the sun ON the 9th, thereafter 10 re-
appear as morning star, though but
rarely to he seen with the unaided eve,
except when near opposition In clear,
moonless sky.
Mercury, swinging back to the sun,
in this morning sky. will scarcely be
visible during the month, but, IL at
all. it will be fer the first few mornings.
Neptune will be in opposition on the
below the western horizon. Invisible
we'll up at late hour at its nearest
and brightest position for study with
optical aid. Ii is just over the border
Of Taurus in Geniini.
Mars, the rudy god OF war, much
less brilliant than the mighty Jupiter,
is racing with his larger neighbors, and
will be in conjunction with Saturn on
the l4th and with Jupiter on tho 18th. 4
In both cafes the appro ach will be
quite close Closer still will be ths
conjunction OF Uranus and Mercury on.
the morning OF the 18th, but much too
near the sun to be glimpsed.
At p. m. early in the month Cas-
siopeia 8 CHAIR lies apoye Polaris, a
conspicuous silyery figure on the great
dial. Cepheus is above and to the
west. No bright stars mark this con
stellation, but its dim outlines respond
to stendy Wis on when the moonbeams
are absent. Ursl Minor the Small
Bear is below and to the west, Draoo
(the Dragun) is west of the pole, and
Ursa Major 1.-THE Great Bear be'ow.
Perseus iH above ana to the east,
Algol, the famous variable, in excellent
position for study of its light fluctua.
tions The gallant knight that rescued
Andromeda is the cynosure of astro.
nomioal eyes at present, for the nebular
Developments Of Nova Persei I'd have
stirred the astrophysicists anew. This
new" star, no longer visible without
telescope, Is almost on line between
Algul and the bright Capella in Auriga,
and about q quarter Of the way from
the former.
Auriga 1.-THE Charioteer) is belwo
Perseus, the little triangle of the kids"
sparkling prettily near the brilliant |
goat star.
In the east Orion is ascending from
the depths below the horizon.
At q late hour his majestic outlines |
will be In full view. But along the |
Taurus 1.-THE Bull Is we'll up, then |
Aries (the Ram, Pisces 1.-THE Fishes
on the meridian, next Aquarius (the |
Waterman and then Caprioornus 1.-THE
Goat sinking in the southwest.
The great Cetus THE Whale IL in the |
south, east o; the meridian. Piscis
A ustrinus 1.-THE Southern Fish with it3 /
bright leader Fomalhaut, is to the west
OF the meridian.
Looking north Of the ecliptic, andre
media shines almost on the meridian,
with the Great Square of Pegasus west, |
CyRnus tthe Swan, displaying it's fine
croes, together with the Dolphin tJob's
Collin, Lyra fthe Harp, whoss chief
jewel is the radiant Vega, and Aquila
1.-THE Eaglel, led by the flashing Affair.
are descending toward the western
horizon. Corona Boreals 1.-THE Northern
Grown has Just disappeared, and Her
cules is setting.
Ra,dt,,. :, IN, w.,