Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-09
THE MARCH SKIES.
The Annulnr Eclipse of the Suu-POsi-
tiOn of the Plancts-Phascs Of the
MOOn-Thc COnstcllat iOns-rhe
sun Spots.

An unusual number of interesting as
Economical events will occur this month.
Among them are the near approach Of the
planets Venus and Jupiter. the great bril-
liancy of Venus, which will make it easily
visible in the day time; an annular
eclipse of the sun, visible in Australia.
and the suns crossing of the equator as
it moves northward. The first of these
to occur is the annuar eclipse of the sum-
on the night of the 5th. 1t is OF interest
because illustrating the curious fact that
the sun and moon. as viewed from the
earth. seem to be so nearly the same size
that the slight variations in their dis
lance make first one and then the other
apparently the larger. At this time the
sun is about at it's average distance from
the earth. but the moon at nearly its
greatest distance. In consequence. the
moon appears the smaller. and when it
seems TO be placed centrally in front of
the SUM- as it will on the 9TH tn observers
lin parts of the Indian ocean and Aus
traiia, there will be a rim of sunlight
around it, forming q brilliant annulus or
ring.
The gradual approach to each other of
the bright planets. Venus and Jupiter in
the evening sky has been noticed for
several months The climax will be
cached on the 9Th. when the two will
be less than five degrees apart Venus
lis the brighter Of the two and the one
farther north. Their approach is only re-
latve. for both are moving eastward
among the stars. Nssus the moro rapidly,
as anyone may verify by noticing their
position with reference to the elongated
triangle Of stars a little north of them,
which is the characteristic group of the
constellation Aries. The moon passes
south of the planets OH the 9th. three
degrees below Jupiter and nine degrees
below Venus. Lovers Of beauty in the
groupings of the celestial bodies Will
enjoy an unusually pretty sight on the
evenings of the 9th and 10th. when the
crescent moon will be near the two bril-
liant planets.
The difference in the brightness of the
planets Venus and Jupiter is noticeable.
now that they are in the same part of the
| sky. Venus is at present especially
bright and on the 21st reaches its greatest
hrillancy. On any day this month il viii
he possible to sec the planet in fun day
light. The difficulty ia to know Jest
where to look. TO aid in this. il is well
to look where the planet has a position
which can he located. 1t crosses the
meridian on the LIST ut 2.i9 p. m, ana -
then IL degrees above the southern horz-
on; on the 2lst the time of transit Is : =
| p. M, and the altitude 6s degrees; ON the
3lst the time is l.j6 p. M. the altltude
20 degrees. If one has an Instrument
which measures heights. as an engineer :
transit he can point to the desired pace
and look along the tube instead OF
through il. Or one can stand near wall
running north and south and ny I""AihS
up at the region two-thirds "i IN" d's-
lance tn tho zenith between ana " j. m
he can probably find the star shinlns
bravey in the sky.
There is no more beautiful telescope
object in the heavens than Venus wheh
brightest. Its shape is then IA crescent
whose area is but thrcc-tcnths or u full
circle. A small telescope VIII SHOW TINS
beautiful object quite satisfactorily.
| AS the seasons advance no date is moro
welcomed in northern regions than that
on which the sun crosses tho 'ilhe III
the spring Whether or not the tradl-
tionnl cline storm occurs, all welcome
the event as the sure fcrcrunher or The
spring which the almanac states begins
on that day. This happy event comes
this year on the elst mt IA. IN.
Toward the end of the month Mercury
comes into view in the evening, Offering
the most favorable opportunity of the
year for seeing it with the naked eye
On any evening of the last week 1t may
be seen three quarters of an hour after
sunset. a little north of the line from
Jupiter to the sunset point on the horiz.
on. 1t sets on the 3lst hour and 81
minutes after the sun.
The two most distant planets. Uranu.
and Neptune. reach points in their path.
this month which have significant names
Uranus on the 25th is in quadrature
or 90 degrees east of the sun. 1t rise
near midnight, and will soon he in