Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-12-05
THE DECEMBER SKIES.
The Planets and COnstclIntiOns-Thc
21st the Shortest Day.

The last month of the calendar year
1912 is ushered in by two planetary senti-
nels, Venus and Saturn. guarding the
western and eastern portals of the
evening sky. Venus Is the brilliant star
low in the southwest, seen soon as
he evening twilight fades sufficiently
saturn Is the bright star high in the
east beneath the familiar cluster Of stars.
The Pleades These two planets are the
only planets now readily visible to the
eye without a telescope. Mars and Jupi-
ter are beyond the sun and hidden by the
sunlight. Mercury is moving between
earth and sun and will become visible
near the end Of the month before sun
rise.
the sun reaches on the 2lst but is COM
ing north as the sun will after that date.
Indeed, It acts as a forerunner Of the
sun. and will this month move along
among the stellar groups Of sagittarius
nd Caprcornus in nearly the same path
hat the sun will follow In January and
<he first half Of February. 1t Is slowly
Increasing in brightness as it draws near
pr the earth. At the same time its phase
observed in the telescope Is diminishing.
fun moon. When it has decreased so that
Its shape Is narrow crescent, It is a
beautiful telescope object. At present 1t
Is not an interesting object. chiefly be-
cause its low altitude in the sky gives It
blurred appearance. Venus sets on the
first at GAS p IN. on the 3lst at $50 D. IN.
Saturn. the unique ringed planet is in
especially favorable position for study
fol ha ri I'M cd
at a large angle "a degrees, 80 that It Is
possible to trace the subdivision between
the two outer rings space OF about 900
miles. as a slender black line When the
air is fairly steady this line can be seen
except where the ball Of the planet pro-
trudes and hides part of the rings Sa-
turn Is between the Piciades and the
Hyades In the constellation Taurus. NOV
ing slowly westward. Two of its 10 known
satellites can be readily seen with a small
telescope OF four inches aperture and
three more when the conditions are par
ticularly favorable. a telescope of II
inches aperture will reveal eight. Only
the most powerful telescopes will show
the ninth satellite. and the 10th requires
photography added to the greatest optical
power. Saturn 10 visible practically all
nlgHt, SettlHR Oh the ISL dt o.lD d. III, On
the 31st at 4:05 a. m.
Jupiter on the 18th passes behind the
sun and cannot be seen this month.
When next observed it will rise before
the sun In the early morning.
Mars rises In the early morning on the
LIST nj sos a. m, on the 3lst at 500 a, m,
It IL In the constellation Libra, somewhat
brighter than the pole star, and moves
this month across Scorpio; when passing
north of it's namesake Antares on the
18th 1t will resemble the star In color. but
be appreciably fainter.
Mercury executes its movements rapid
ly. on the LIST II sets at $40 p. IN and
might possibly be dimly seen by severe
searching about 800 p. m. Eight days
later 1t goes between the earth and sun,
n little north OF the line Joining them,
passes near Mars on the 14th and reaches
its greatest apparent distance from the
sun on the 18th. On that date II rises at
6:15 A. m an hour and three-quarters be-
fore the sun. While few will think of
this planet in the busy holiday season it
may hc found quite readily at six O'Clock,
|. or a little later. shining in the gathering
AuulAahf above the sunrise point In the