The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-09
THE HEAVENS IN SEPTEMBER.
The Harvest Moon and the Suns
Crossing of the EquinOctiaI.
New York Times.

The full moon which occurs nearest the
autumnal equinox is popularity termed the
harvest moon. On Sept. rs the moon will be
full The popularity of the full moon that
comes nearest Sept. % or % is that it rises
a near the same time for several nights in
succession. A full moon always rises about
the time the sun sets. but on the evening
following the day on which the moon
reaches its full stage it rises after sunset
at periods ranging from a few minutes to
more than hour, depending on season
and latitude Those intervals are shorter
with the September moons than with those
of the other months. The difference of
time between successive risings of the
moon after sunset, comparing September
with March, practically disappears around
the equator and increases with the dis
lance from that line, being greater here
than in New Orleans, and greater In Alaska
than here.
Around the time of the autumnal equinox
the angle between the plane of the horizon
and that of the ecliptic, or of the path
which the earth traverses in it's yearly
journey around the sun, is smaller than it
is at other times during the year. This is
why the moon of that period seems to rise
about the same time for several consecutive
nights In England, where so many of the
crops are gathered in September, the full
moon for the month, which comes UP for
many evenings just after sunset. leaving
only a brief interval of darkness, was once
deemed to be a special provision of Provi-
dence TO enable the farmers to continue
their work onward into the night without
interruption.
Twice each year-around March q and
Sept 22-the sun is said to "cross the
equinOctial," or "crOSS the line" The ear
lier date Is called the Vernal equinox and
the latter one the autumnal equinox. When
the sun crosses the line it is in the zenith
of all places on the equator at noon. Con-
sequently its rays reach from one pole to
en- n
toned dates each year the sun is above
the horizon of every point of the earth:
and approximately for the same length OF
time as it is below the horizon. Thus the
days and night ar those dates, making no
allowance for refraction, are about equal
in duration. On Sept. p the siX-months
siX-months night Will begin, while at the
south pole they Will just be beginning TO
get their spring wardrObes in order, and
Will be discussing the most successful of
our summer shirt waist patterns.
The September sky will be alive with
clustering consultations that shine with
renewd luster in the crisp and pure au-
tumnal atmosphere Among them may be
noted the great square or Pegasus rising
in the east, and low down in the northeast
IS the lovely cluster of the PleiadeS. The
three stars, ArcturuS, Vega and Capella,
known as the northern brilliants, are spe
claly worthy of observation, for they are
all visible, and opinions differ as to which
is the brightest of the trio. Early in Sep
TENDER Arcturus is the brilliant red star
near the northwestern horizon, Vega the
superb star high in the north, not far west
of the meridian, and Capella viii be fund
in the northeast Outshining her neighbors.
These three stars form an irregular tri-
angle.
ON Sept. 2S the day of the full moon,
these beautiful bright diamond points will
be in about the same position. But planets
q stars Will lose their luster when, at
the close of the month, the rounded orb
OF the harvest moon looms above the east
ern horizon as the sun sinks below the
western, and seated in her silver carr
rises slowly to the zenith, putting out the
smaller stars and flooding the earth with
silvery light.
Three of the planets reach the position of
quadrature in September, the first one be-
ing Uranus, which arrives there on the 5th
and then hurries along toward conjunction
with the sun. where it win be early in De-
cember This is one of the evening stars
and is found not very far from Antares,
which is the bright star of the constellation
of the Scorpion. The next OF the brother
| hood to reach the quarter post is Neptune.
and his arrival there makes him a very bad
second to Uranus, as he does not get TO the
mark until the 18th. Before this on the 9Th
we have this planet and the lessening cres-
cent of the moon in conjunction, and so we
see that Neptune is a morning star for the
present. being the only one Of his class for
the month.
Jupiter on the 2Sth, the day of the won
derful full moon, is the third planet that
reaches quadrature on his way fight
more closely with Venus for the supremacy
of the evening sky. After the middle of
Mercury is moving away TO the eastward
from the sun, and is, consequently, another
of the evening stars. but in response to the
great attraction Of the he turns again
to the westward and becomes a morning
star some time before the great struggle
between the two larger and more important
| planets above mentioned. Mercury and the
two days old moon are in a somewhat dis
| tant conjunction on the 14th.
Saturn sets shortly after midnight, and
will be in quadrature early in October, be-
| ing the only planet for that month TO reach
| that distinguished position. This is the
planet that is 50 close TO Jupiter. The lat
| ter gets to his highest altitude at about
! 40 in the evening and Saturn gets there
| about o'clock. Jupiter is a bit further
south, not quite a degree. however. and in
i the latter part of November the two planets
! Will be almost close enough to touch one
another.
Mars. another evening star, has the dis
! tinction for the month Of being occulted by
/ the moon, there being but eleven minutes OF
! arc separating the two on the 10th. To our
| eyes il will look as though the planet and
/ the moon were at hide and seek.
| Automobile Possibilities.