Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-17
THE AUGUST SKIES.
Planets and Constellatlo ns-Th Au-
gust Mctcors-Phascs OF the Moon.

star groups. The brilliant Orion 40
well known in the winter sky with its
attendant groups. the Plciadcs and
Hyades. no longer claim our attention.
The sparkling jewels Sirius, Procyon.
Caster, Pollux. Aldebaren Rigcl, can
not be found. Arcturus, Spica. Vega.
Antarcs glitter In somewhat solitary
splendor. for the stellar setting con-
t1ins only the lesser lights OF the firm
ament. But this year the quiet beauty
of the summer heavens II wonderfully
Increased by the presence OF the most
brilliant planets In our system. Every
one has noticed the two bright stars
In the southeast. The brighter is Jupi-
err, the fainter Saturn. Those who see
the western sky in the early evening
have also noticed the star more brill
liant than either Of these glowing in the
waning twilight. This is Venus. the
acknowledged queen Of the starry
realm. Ruddy Mars may also be seen
in the southwest. calmly awaiting the
arrival of his fellow planets as they
approach him from opposite directions.
The individual motions of these plan
cts are worth noting, as they soinbine
so curiOusIy to bring the planets all
together in a few weeks. All four are
actually moving In the same direction.
but at markedly different rates. We
nus. Mars, Jupiter. Saturn. Is the or
der OF their speed. The earth's mo-
ton is represented by the apparent
motion of the sun, and comes between
Venus and Mars. making the orGer
Venus. sun. Mars. Jupiter. Saturn. the
direction in which they are all moving
is from west TO east. or from fight 10
left as We view the sky when facing
the south. But the order in when
they are now placed in the sky Is sat
urn. Jupiter. Mars. Venus. sun. II we
begin at the east and count toward
the west. Saturn, the leader moves
the slowest Venus. the most rapid. ~
at the end of the planetary line, whlir
the sun gains upon them all except
Venus. Soon Venus passes all the
others: then the sun ovcrtakes them
all in turn and meets the conTuering
Venus returning from the race.
The planets Jupiter and Saturn,
which are apparently so close together.
have been increasing their diStanc" Tor
several weeks. They are now nearly
as far apart as they Will get. tor Jupl-
tcr il losing it's speed and on the Goth
stops its westward motion ana re-
Sumcs it's regular eastward journey,
moving towards Saturn. Both togeth-
or. gradually drawing into closer EEL
lowship. drift towards the sun as that
monarch approaches them. In pr"saic
Language they are found higher in the
eastern skyseach successive evening
and Set earlier IN the morning. on
,be fst Jupiter sets at 2O2 a. NJ. sat
urn AZ a25 A. NJ on the 3lst Jupiter
sets al l1.5S r. NJ. Saturn at 1890 +.
NJ.
Mars is not conspicuous as II moves
rapidly eastward in the southwest IL
cannot however. keep pace with the
sun which is slowly drawing near
This is shown in the time 81 st''ihs.
on The lst Mars sets at 9.35 +. NJ. two
hours thirty minutes after the sun on
the 3lst at sic +. NJ, ono hour htty-
seven minutes after the sun. II Is
moving across tn. constellation \lrso
and will pass near the bright star
Spica. 1t can be distinguished from
Spica by its ruddy tint; II Is lhe
northern of the two.
Ncnus in the west increases It's as
lance from the sun very Slowly. ~
the lst IL sets at sic +. NJ. one hour
eleven minutes after the SUM- ana on
the ais, at 736 Z. NJ, one hour -FOUR
taen minutes OTTER the sun. rms very
slight gain of but three minutes Is que
IN the fact that the planet Is moving
southwark as well as eastward raster
than N, sun the former motion coun-
teracting in part the gain Of the lat-
ter.
The planet Uranus should he men
toned in connection win 'l' A'u'
others of tho evening sky. for only It's
great distance prevents its being a.
CONSPICUOUS as Jupiter or saturn II
is west of Jupiter in the c"hSt"ha' i"h
Scorpio. on the ed it ceases US re'-
rocradc motion and resumes IFS east
ward motion among the stars II sciS
on the LIST at 1884 \. NJ.
Mercury may bc seen for Few
mornings early in the MONTH rlSlhS
before the sun. ON the LIST 1t rises AT
310A A. NJ. on the I'd it is at its great
est apparent distance from the sun. II
NAV be seen between $50 ana a. VI
in the gathering twilight above 'he
sunrise point Of the horizon. II ap-
nro,ches the sun and is soon lost IN
tho SIMS RAYS. On the 21th II passes
behind the sun and enters the evening
sky.
Ncptune is isolated from the "ther pan
&c rising an the list at lao ~ NJ. and on
the 3lst at 1l.i5 L. NJ.
The moon helps in the identification ~
HE planets by passing near cach IN WI =.
the dates this month are: 10Th. Neptune
I2,b Mercury: 18th, Venus. 18TH. Mars
% Uranus: 24th. Jupiter: 23th. saturn
The consultations of the evening SIX
while of the fainter order. contain We'll
known and easily recognized groups. the
yodiacaI belt. extending from west to east
includes Virgo. Libra. Scorpio, Sagittar'us
and Capricornus West of the meridian
and all north of the zodiac may be found
Coma. Bcreniccs Bootes. Serpens. Corona
Rorcalis. Hercules. Orphiuchus. trsa
| Major. Jrsa Minor and Draco. East OF
the meridian and all north of the zodiac
arc Auuila. Delphinus. Lyra. Cygnus. Pc
easus Cephcus. IaSsiopeia and Andromc-
da.
| Occa sional meteors may be seen during
| anv clear eyAninC this month. especially
! in the first two weeks. These are scat
! tered fragments of broad stream
/ through which tho earth passes each year
| where the particles arc especially neal
| IL -,