The Washington times., 1903-03-31
Position Of the Stars
In the Month of April
Peversity of the Ancient Nomenclature Applied to Con
stelIdtOnS.

anew this magnificent resplendeucy. this
perfect picture fresh from natures hand
Phases Of the Moon.
The phases of the moon began with a
first quartering on the 18th, followed on
the 18th by the full moon. This. IT viii
be observed is the first full moon that
we have had since the yernaI equinox,
consequently the SUNDAY following is
Easter. The date given In ;he church
calendars is the 18Th. and We and that
/ TO agree exactly with our own caIcula-
lions. On the 18th is the last quarter
ing, and eight days later we have the
new moon.
On the 18th. the day of the full, there
will be a partial eclipse OF the moon.
which we shall be permitted to see l.
. the night be clear. The moon enters
the shadow about 1890 IN the evening
and emerges about 1:52 in the morn
ing. The first Of the cOniUnCtions ia
which a planet and the moon are inter
ested occurs on the Sd. when Neptune
finds the moon within about four de-
grees OF his territory
AsLronomiCaLy speaking. a similar
meeting between these two heavenly
/ bodies takes place on the last day OF
/ the month. but, as this runs over the
limit of the calendar, We call the per-
Torrance for the first of the following
month.
In Conjunction With Mars
Mars comes next, on the 10th. but the
moon. Is far too bright for q proper
spectacular effect on that occasion. and
/ the distance between the two bodies
! is also TOO great Powerful telescopes
show portion of the surface markings
! of this planet. from which the general
| appearance of his disk can be fairly
well inferred. He rotates on his axis
! in about PAP hours. and completes his
| journey around the sun in a little less
l than 6S7 days. His diameter is about
/ 1900 miles
Mercury once again becomes an even
ing star on the 18th, when it Is in su-
perioT conjunction with the s1ln We
shall have this planet as an evening star
until early in June. Toward the lat
ter part of May we shall be able 30 see
4
dark and not far from the sunset spot
Neither Mercury nor Venus is par
| ticularly successful object in the tele-
scope, although the latter, both as
morning and as evening star. is the
most brilliant planet in the sky
One can hardly wonder at the an
clients fancying Mercury to be two diff
ferent stars OF a variable that came and
went at somewhat irregular intervals
Unless the horizon is fairly clear, it is
not always possible to see Mercury. and
we now know that he is only visible 10
the unaided vision when az the end Of
his tether as he swings about the sun.
Uranus in a Minor Part.
Uranus plays a very minor part on our
monthly program. and we find him in
but one number, and that a distant
meeting with the moon on the 18th
There is altogether too much clear sky
between the two bodies even to have
the position Of the moon serve 10 in
dictate the locality of the planet.
Uranus is slowly moving on toward the
/ position o. opposition with the sun, af-
/ ter which event. which occurs in the
middle of June, we shall have him num-
bered among the evening stars.
/ Saturn, although having the same right
/ ascension that the moon has on the goth.
/ is over degrees TO the northward. so
no very pretty picture viii result On
/ the 3Oth Saturn reaches the position Of
quadrature with the sun on his way TO
/ opposition. This leaves the planet for
the month among the morning stars.
Jupiter is the morning star now. and
rises shortly after i o'clock. Telescope
/ observations show US that a system of
/ irregular belts crosses his face. and also
/ that the planet departs from an ebsO-
/ out at the equator, which IS not alto
( gether to be wondered at, when We re-
call that his bulk Is over / 300 times that
/ Of the earth. and his density much less,
/ while the speed with which he rotates
/ or his axis amounts at his equator to
/ something like 2S,o10 miles an hour
/ Venus smiles most radiantly al us
now without waiting for Old So TO en-
tirely disappear She does not set until
/ S:45, so We have fne chance 70 admire
/ her, which, womaHalke. she no doubt
! appreciates thoroughly. We are to have
/ her as evening star until September II,
so ample time is offered In which 10
} thoroughly enjoy her