The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-05-05
STARRY SKIES IN MAY
AN INTERESTING STUDY
Venus Especially Radiant During the Third Spring
Month";

whereas there are score or more of
them, each probably as important to
it's principal as ours is to US. Though
our moon is supposed TO be dead and
cold. similar conditions are not assumed
TO govern ali the satellites of the sis
ter planets. Some of those pertaining
TO the Jovian system are believed to
emit light of their own, showing that
they are still hot.
However, astronomers are usually
eager TO find evidence OF life on other
spheres, even discovering on the earth's
attendant orb apparent traces of mighty
works of engineering artifce-the imag-
ined creation of races OF beings long
extinct-such as a stupendous bridge that
appears TO span crater of the moon
volcano called "Eudoxus"
Mars, on the 7th. is In conjunction
with the moon. but the star is too faint
and the moon too bright to lend much TO
the beauty Of the heavens. The planet
is moving on toward Quadrature, at
which milepost it will not arrive until
July He is now an evening star and
will remain in that group throughout
the year His disk is gradually les
SEEMING, and viii continue so to do until
the year closes.
Movements of Uranus.
Uranus is moving toward opposition.
where it will arrive at about the middle
of June, and when there will be most ia
vorably located for observation. Those
who succeed in locating this fine planet
should familarize themselves witt its
surroundings SO that, even IL they can
not see it, they can have some kind of
an idea as to its general situation.
Saturn still remains among the morn
ing stars, his engagement with that ag-
gregation not being finished until the
close of July. At that time he will be in
opposition with the sun. and after that
until the year closes will be an evening
star. AT favorable times a good glass
will reveal its rings. which are always
well worth a second look. The moon
passes IN the neighborhood of Saturn
early on the 18th, but unfortunately
there Is far too much clear sky between
the two heavenly bodies to aid US in our
search for the beautiful
Jupiter, the lord of the early dawn,
rises about 2:30, and Is working slowly
away from the sun. Not until September
can we obtain the best view of this huge
planet. but il may be easily recognized
now in the east before daybreais by its
superior size and brilliant light When
at our closest approach TO this grand
planet our smaller telescopes can easily
bring it's moons into view.
Mercury and Neptune
On the 10th, Mercury reaches the
furthest eastern point in its swing, and
once again turns toward Old Sol, whose
warming and attractive influence can
not be resisted. Mercury is now an
evening star, and during the two or
three days before and after the 10th
of the month, 1t may be easily seen just
after sunset about degrees further
north than the sunset point. 1t is very
soon carry it out of view.
Neptune aids US somewhat in a pro-
gram, that has but few brilliantly inter
esting numbers, by being in conjunction
with Venus on the 18th, and passing
through similar meeting with the moon
on the 2Sth. 1t is somewhat unfortunate
that at both Of these meetings the dis
lance separating the heavenly bodies is
such that we do not get much satisfac-
ton in trying TO fix the position OF
Neptune.
Venus is throughout the month a ra-
diantly lovely object for the eye to feast
itself upon. She is now drawing further
and further away from the sun, so that
we have her in view for quite a time
after SHUTDOWN, but no matter how long
this period may be, and it is seldom
much over three hours IN length, 1t is all
too short. She easily is the reigning
queen wherever she appears, and her
light always seems to mean peace and
hope and happiness.