The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-09
SKIES BRIGHT WITH STARS
Sights Of Interest to Local Astrsn,
oners n April Heavens.

Sights Of Interest to Local AstrsH.
oners h April Heavens.
professor Doolittle. University Of
Pennsylvania.l
BY far the most interesting part of
the sky this month is the region tow
ard the west. The brightest constel-
lations are there all crowded together
between the zenith and the ground,
while the whole eastern half of the
heavens is filled with the first of the
faint summer groups. The milky way
also adds to the great beauty Of the
western sky. stretching along just
little above the ground all the way
from the north to the south points of
the horizon.
But the most interesting objects will
doubtless be the planets. the bright
wandering Stars" as the ancients
called them, which may be seen NOV
ing rapidly among the stars of the
bright winter constellation. By the
end OF the month three OF them will
nave drawn close together their meet
ing place being the most interesting
part OF the entire heavens. In one
little region of the sky there may then
be seen the beautiful, Hyades with the
P!eiases short distance above them
while the three bright PLANETS will
lie nearly midway between these two
groups. stretching in straight line
from east to west. So brilliant a
spectacle is quite unusual. ! The win
ter sky attains its greatest beauty
Just as 1t IL leaving us.
First of all, there is the little, red,
planet Mars, which has been with us
for SO many months. On April 1, it
may be seen just below Aries. and
as the weeks go by it will move rapid
~ eastward. 1t is as if Mars were
running away from the sun, to stay
with us as long as possible. The sun
IS moving toward the east, but it
moves little faster than Mars does.
Thus Mars sets a little earlier each
evening; on April it sets at S.54 p. m.
and on April 80 at $40 p. M. The
sun Will not finally overtake and pass
the planet will until July Is.
Though Mars is thus nicely visible
for an hour OF two after sunset, it is
each evening drawing further away
from the earth, and is therefore grow
ing fainter. If examined with small
telescope. it will appear very far from
round. Possibly the bright little snow
cap may be seen, and a few of the
larger markings, but the planet is too
lar away from the fainter details to
be visible. 1t will be remembered that
Mars Is more nearly like the earth
than any OF the other planets. Yet
it is much smaller; its diameter is only
ohn,,f ho1f hot 81 <h1
account its attraction for bodies on it's
surface is much less. A man who
weighs $50 pounds on the earth would
only weigh So pounds on Mars; IL he
could jump five feet high here, he
could jump fourteen feet on this other
earth.
the west soon OTTER sunset, and look
a little above the part of the horizon
where he has seen the sun go down,
he will easily detect a most beautiful,
silvery-white star. This Is the planet
Venus. which each evening will mount
little higher up in the sky, until
finally it will become the most bril-
liant star of the heavens. From this
month until next November. Venus
will remain the evening star.
vi apIA - Iuc plduSI Will Ue III Tic
constellation Pisces. 1t will then set
about one hour after sunset On April
80, it will pass under the Pleiades, and
by June it will have moved entirely
across the constellation Gemini Ven
US will pass below Mars on May 5.
The two planets will then look like
q bright double star to the naked eye,
while in q small telescope they may
both be seen close together in the field.
The sight will not onl ybe a beautiful
one, but it will afford a valuable OPP
portunity to compare the lusters- and
col0rs of the two planets.
If examined with the telescope, the
planet as the months go on will ap-
proach the crescent phase, becoming
half full on September 20 and a very
narrow, brilliant crescent on October
"a. 1t will then appear nearly six
times as large as at present.
Venus is very nearly OF the same size