Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-04
August skies.

eclipse of the moon. fOretelling the
eclipse of the sun of the 30th, which Is
the most important event of the month
both for general and scientific interest.
Saturn is in best position for study,
while Mars in the evening and Jupiter
and Venus in the morning are all bril-
liant.
Mercury may be seen any clear even
ing Of the first decade Of the month at
about three-quarters Of an hour after
sunset. 1t is at its greatest apparent
distance from the sun on the I'd. and
will set that evening one hour and three
minutes after sunset. 1t should be look
ed for about Il or 20 minutes earlier. or
about 7.45 l.. NJ, in the twilight above
the sunset point of the horizon. 1t is
of about two-thirds of its greatest
brightness. and will grow somewhat
brighter as it draws nearer the sun.
On the 29th it will pass by the sun and
be visible in September in the morning.
Venus is brilliant in the morning sky,
rising on the LIST at 1.22 A. NJ, and shin
ing until the twilight Overcomes Its
strong light. 1t is growing somewhat
fainter as the month advances, but
not to a marked degree.
Mars is the most brilliant star in the
evening. rising long before sunset and
setting in the late evening-at eleven on
the first and before ten on the thirty
first. Those interested in watching its
progress among the stars should this
month notice it's gradual approach to-
ward Antares, it's ruddy namesake. in
the constellation Scorpio. On the
twenty-sixth Mars is exactly ninety
degrees from the sun. or in quadratnre.
to use the term which has survived
from astrological days.
Jupiter is in nearly the opposite part
Of the sky from Mars, rising as the
latter sets. On the twenty-ninth it IS
ninety degrees distant from the sun in
the opposite direction from Mars. 1t
rises on the first at 11.49 P. NJ, and on
the thirty-first at ten p. NJ.
Saturn reaches it's opposition point on
the twenty third, rising at sunset. II
is i'm the constellation Aquarius, east of
the triangular grouping of stars which
marks the constellation Capricornus
among which it was located year ago.
Uranus may be found in the evening
with tho aid of telescope. Its position
on the first is eighteen hours three min
utcs right ascension and South twenty
three degrees 43 inches defamation. This
is very near the point reached by the
sun at the winter solstice in December,
and is in the star group Sagittarius not
far from the handle of the milk Dip
per-" The planet moves but half a
degree from this position during the
month.
Neptune is in nearly the opposite part
of the sky from Uranus. 1t rises on
list at 2.13 a. NJ, and about four min
utes earlier each succeeding morning.
Its right ascension on the LIST is Oh 36m,
and its declinatiOn n. 90 II. This is
about TO- from the point reached by the
sun at the summer solstice in June, and
is in the constellation Gemini.
The consultations visible in the even
ing at +. NJ. on the 1st or p. NJ. on
the 18th include the Zodiacal groups
Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius and
Capricornus. named from west to east.
West of the meridian are Coma Bere-
nices. Rootes. Serpens. Corona Borealis.
Hercules, Ophiuchus. Ursa Major, Ursa
Minor and Draco-the last three in the
northwest and north.
East of the meridian are Aquila. Del
phinus. Lyra. Cygnus, Pegasus. Ceph-
Gus, CasSiopeia and AndrOmeda-the
last three in the northeast and north.
The motion of the moon is the most
interesting feature of the month. as it
results in II lunar and a solar eclipse.
The phases are: It'll. first quarter 4th.
full, I'D, last quarter; SOth, new. The
planets are passed in the following or
der: I'd. Mercury; Sth. Mars: 18th.
Uranus: 18th. Saturn: sd. Jupiter;
18th. Neptune: eth, Venus: Goth. Mer-
curry.
at intervals of about six months. and
as the same conditions are necessary
for the one as the other. namely. that
the three bodies sun. earth and moon,
shall be nearly in line. it frequently
happens, as this month, that an eclipse
of the moon is preceded or followed by
an eclipse of the sun. sometimes it Is
both preceded and followed, at an i'm
terval of two weeks. When the three
bodies are nearly in line ut the time Of
full moon there will be 4 total eclipse
Of the moon. and two weeks earlier or
later there is sure to he a partial eclipse
OF the sun When, as on the 30th. the
three bodies are nearly in line at the
time of new moon. there will be a GEN.
trail eclipse of the sun, and frequently
a partial eclipse of the moon will pre-
cede or follow The order this month is
a partial eclipse of The moon at full
moon on the 14th, and Il total eclipse
of the sun at new moon on the 3Oth.
The partial eclipse of the moon on the
14th will be interesting. AT SOB p. NJ.
the moon enters the penumbra, and
until 939 will be gradually dimmei
while retaining it's full shape. the dark
ening being most noticeable on the
eastern edge. At that time the shadow
is reached and the edge will be notched.
At 1O.1 the middle Of the eclipse Is
reached. when about three-tenths OF
the moons diameter VIII be cut off.
At 11.43 the outline of the moon is again
and its light fully restored
at LA A. nj. y. tts =.
The total eclipse of the sun on the
Both occurs in the Northern Hemis-
phere, and viii be large partial |
eclipse in New England, occurring soon
i, ITO, ,,,,,.;.a Al the moon IA SSeS be-