Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-03-10
THE MARCH SKIES
The ComctS-The PIanfts-Phascs OF
the Noou--The CONSULTATIONS.

(From the Boston Transcript
Comets hold the chief interest in astro-
nomical interest at the present time. The
bright comet which was visible after
sunset in the later evenings of January
and until Feb. 10 is no longer under OBJ
servation. even with the aid of the tel
escope as it's direction is nearly that of
the sun. Its orbit proves to be an unus-
ually difficult one to calculate. At least
fifteen orbits have been computed but
non care satisfactory. The first orbits
calculated were quite erroneous. From
them it was inferred that the comet had
approached the sun from the north. escap-
ing detection. and that it would move
away northward and be seen in the tel
escope for many weeks. The comet ref
used to move in the path calculated for
it. The later orbits show that it came NJ
from the far south. where It was not
likely 10 be seen, aud as it recedes from
ne sun is turning south again. When all
The observations OF its position are coll
lected and thoroughly discussed its ac-
tual path can probably IL. determined
more closely than Is now known. Nothing
new regarding the physical condition Of
comets was learned from this comet dur
ing its brief visit, as far as as been yet
reported.
iialley's comet will he visible to the ma
| ked eye during the first few evenings of
| This month 1t will no, be conspicuous.
but can be seen as hazY object In the
southwest as soon as It Is dark enough.
As there are no bright stars near it. it
| may be difficult to know Just where TO
look If one has telescope with setting
! circles or a star man upon which the po-
| sitions may be located he may find it
| from it's positions as follows: First right
| ascension Oh. 81 min declnation \.
deg. 81 min; 10th, right ascension on. u
min, dcclinaton n deg. 80 min Tie
first position is u deg the second II
deg. west Of the planet saturn. or II
| line is drawn from Saturn 20 the star Al
gensb which is the star in the south
east corner OF the Square or PesaRus. ~
deg. from Saturn and low in the west, the
Gomez may be found near the middle or
the lin, a little nearer Algeneb and
| little farther south. \ field glass; or a
small telescope vii be OF assistance. Az
| ter the first week or ten days the comet
will be in twilight ana cannot he detect
ed. on the 9th IT will pass behind the
sun and later be seen in III" morning be-
| fore sunrise Since the detection of the
| comet in September. IT has be regularly
observed with the telescope. 1t has IN
creased steadily In brllliancy, but has
| not shown any tail In tn" smaller teies-
copes although one has been seen with
| the largest telescopes and has also been
photographed. Very great Increase in
| brightness Is soon to begin. During
March the increase will be Mt least four.
| fold; In April it will he very rapid, SO
| that the comet when visible the latter
part Of April In the early morning will
be a conspicuous object.
| The planet Venus IL the brilliant planet
which rises before the sun ON the LIST.
1t may be seen soon after five o'clock.
and So deg. above the horizon. The plan
| 18th II reaches its greatest hrilhancy,
and may be seen in full daylight for a
number OF days OF the sky Is clear One
should look due south al abou: 40 a. NJ.
and 81 deg. above the horizon The plan
cts phase in tho telescope is a crescent
Tho rapidity with which Venus moves
from the evening sky into the morning
sky and RECEIVERS the brillancy which it
| loses temporarily In passing between
earth and sun is one OF the most strik-
|
| Jupiter is the brightest planet which
rises In the evening-on the list at SID
p. Nj. and four minutes earlier each fol-
lowing evening. 1t is In the constellation
| VIRGO moving westward. On the 3lst "
IL III Opposition, or opposite the sun. ris-
ing AZ the sun sets The most interesting
phenomena connected with the four
bright satellites which can be seen with
small telescopes are the transits OF sat
elite l., preceded by Its shadow, on the
10th between ana II. 80 =. NJ, and again
on the 10Th between and $50 y. NJ. the
similar transit of satellite III. and its
shadow on the 10Th between $40 and Q A
=. M. and on the 18th the disappearance
of satellite !. IN the planets shadow at
Is =. NJ, followed by the disappearance
of satellite IL. at 9 p. NJ.
| Mercury rises before the sun each
morning. but at too short AN interval 10
he observed,
| Saturn and Mars are both in the south
lwest each evening. Saturn sets on the