Cañon City record., 1909-10-07
ASTRONOMY is
EXPLAINED IN
CLEAR MANNER
PROFESSOR COMPLIES WITH
REQUEST FOR SIMPLE
INFORMATION
(By Herbert a. Howe.l

(By Herbert a. Howe.)
In the Denver Republican of Sept.
II there appeared a courteous re-
quest that the present writer. woulo
answer certain inquiries about some
planets and stars now visible. In re-
ply to this request the following in
formation is given:
The planet Mercury is Just now
rather hard to see. On Sept. 21 it sets
soon after $3.50 p. m, and Sept rs a
few minutes before $50. On the form
er date one may see it degrees at
the left of the bright star Spica: one
ought to catch both with an opera
glass, IL not with the naked eye, by
looking about Is degrees TO the left
of the west point of the horizon. On
Sept 25 Mercury still will be at the
left OF Spica, but degrees away. Or
one may start at Venus. the position
of which will be given presently. and
go a distance of 12 degrees. 10 the
right (north). On Sept. 81 Mercury
will be lower down in the sky than
Venus. On Sept. 25, the distance be-
tween the two will be Is degrees. In
estimating these distances one may
remember that the distance between
the two pointers in the Great Dipper
is 5 degrees. The pointers are the
stars which point upward at the Pole
star.
Venus is considerably brighter than
Mercury, and is the first object to ap-
pear in the Western sky in the early
evening. On Sept. 81 it sets at about
1880 p. m. nearly 20 degrees south
of the west point of the horizon. On
Sept 25 IT will set few minutes
earlier and a couple of degrees fur
ther south.
The bright star that appears in
the west, perhaps 80 degrees down
from the zenith about S o'clock" is
probably Vega. which is close TO the
zenith at $50 p. m. and is so degrees
from the zenith at about 6 p. m. At
1880 p. m. almost exactly west. and
about 80 degrees above the horizon.
is another giant sun. Arcturns by
name.
Mars is by far the most brilliant
object of star-like appearance in the
eastern sky. II rises about degrees
south of the east point of the horizon
at sunset and veers off to the south
may see It by looking directly south
and half way up to the zenith. On
the evening of Sept. IS (Tuesdayl, the
moon will be very close to Mars. pass
ing below 1t.
Saturn may readily be found. after
Mars has been located. by looking 80
degrees to the left of Mars. At 1880
Saturn may be seen very low down.
almost exactly east: II Is yellowish In
hue. but probably will appear to be
tinged with red when near the hor-
iron. II is not nearly as bright as
Mars. but is brighter than any fixed
star in the vicinity. 1t viii be noticed
that II does not twinkle. At midnight
Saturn is at the left of Mars and a
little higher up.
Jupiter sets at present at about
the same time that the sun does; so 1t
cannot be observed.
hesitate somewhat about giving
definition OF "an evening star" be-
cause the term is a popular one, rath-
er than a scletific one. But.without at
tempting too great exactness, one may
say that IL any one sees one OF the
planets anywhere in the sky between
sunset and midnight. he is justified
In calling It an evening star.
| AS to the Star of Bethlehem. can
only say that am not aware that it
has ever been seen since the time
when the Magi were guided by it. in
their quest for the infant Christ.
So many people are now coming out
to the Chamberlln observatory at Uni
versity park on Tuesday and Thurs
day evenings to see Mars and Saturn,
that II may be well again 10 call at
tentlon TO the fact that a fee OF rs
cents Is expected. II Ia necessary TO
ask for this contribution because 9TH
erwise the crowd OF visitors might be
too large TO be handled properly.