Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-25
THE OCTOBER SKIES.
Total Eclipse of Sun on 1oth-Attrac
tons of Month.


| the sun, which comes on the 10th. The
central line of this eclipse crosses
South America, passing near Quito in
Ecuador and Sac Paulo in Rio Grande
Go Sui. The duration of the total
phase in places most favorably stu
ated is a few seconds less than two
minutes. The States of Central Amer
lea and the whole of South America
north and south of the central belt of
totality will enjoy partial eclipse
This event is of scientific and popular
interest also The problems ut pres
ent uppcrmost at the time of solar
celipseS are those connected with the
suns corona, which can be seen only
when the sun is hidden by the moon
1t is an appepdage to the sun. con-
sistng of very tenuOus gases chiefly
and apparently kept out in its position
by rcpellent power of the sun. Its
detailed study is quite difficult be-
| cause the opportunities of examining
it are 50 rare and because the instru-
ments best adapted to it's investiga
ton must be transported to remote
parts OF the earth Progress in our
knowledge is slow in consequence.
total eclipse is of popular interest he
cause as a mere spectacle it is one of
the most beautiful presented to hui
man eyes. 1t well repayS long jour
ney, but is offered only to the few
who will get within the narrow belt
rarely l00 miles wide, which marks
the central path.
The second event of the month, one
which occupies the whole month and
is not then completed, is of popular
interest only. 1t is he gradual draw
ing together of the two brilliant plan
cts Venus and Jupiter in the south
western SKY At first Venus is low in
the heavens, shining in the twilight
as soon after sunset as the increasing
darkness allows. Jupiter is much
higher and distant 40 degrees Both
planets are moving eastward among
the stars, but Venus much faster, aC
Scomplishing as much in day as Jul
'piter in II week Hence the former
planet gains rapidly on its slower fell
low planet and will pass it carly in
November As the two come closer
together the contrast in brightness is
quite marked. Venus, emerging from
tire twilight, may at first seem less
brilliant, but as it draws near its rival
f,IItnet-iits superiority in brightness is
evident It is actually six times as
bright The rejecting power Of the
two planets is about the same, some
observers making one, some the other
the greater. 1t is The difference in
distance from the earth which makes
Jupiter the fainter of the two. Venus
sets on the 1st at 6.25 2. NJ, an hour
later than the sun. Jupiter sets on
the LIST at SO p NJ. On the 31st We
nus sets at SO p. NJ, one hour and
half later than the sun, and Jupiter
at $40 p n.
Venus is now coming into promi-
hence as the leading star of the even
ing sky, and will retain that position
for many months Jupiter will soon
be lost in the evening twilight and
later passed by the sun, to reappear
in the morning hours before sunrise.
While these two planets are claim
ing attention in the west. Saturn is
coming into view in the east. 1t rises
on the first at 10 p. NJ, and on the
3lst at 300 p. NJ. 1t is in the con-
ste!lation Taurus and adds its pres
tlitf To a ItSltl IDhlbdHAiS ptpilltt
with brilliant stars, as it is near the
HaXades. 1t is appreciably brighter
than Aldeharan and strongly contrast
ed with ii in color. 1t is moving slow
" westward. accumplishing about 2
degrees in the course of the month.
Mars is invisible. as it is too near
the sun in direction, while actually
far beyond it. ON the first it sets at
$50 +. M. ard on the 3lst at 4.50 +. NJ
Mercury is also invisible on the
first ii rises 10 minutes before the sun
On the fourth it passes behind the
sun and after that date sets after the
sun. on the 31st il sets about Az min
utes after sunset and is approaching
another time when it can be readily
seen.
Uranus may be found with a tcle-
scope on any clear evening by point
ing the instrument at right ascension
90 hours minutes, declination S. 20
degrees, 80 minutes. This is in the
constellation Capricornus. The planet
sets before midnight, earlier as the
evenings follow each other On the
! 22d ii reaches point in it's orbit
which has the definite name eastern
| QuadrdtuTe Nlltn the angular ulS-
| lance between it and the sun is eX-
actly 80 degrees.
Neptune has reached the CORE
| spending position three days earlier,
| but il is 80 degrees west of the sun
| and therefore is at western quadra-
! ture. 1t is in Gemini, rising AT 11.30
| p. Nj. on the FIRST and at 9.35 on the
31st. Its right ascension is hours
| 81 minutes, its decllnat1on n. 20 de-
grces, Is minutes.
These two distant planets move very
| slowly in their orbits. They reach
| their stationary points, or the points
| where they change their direction
from east to west, or the reverse, at
nearly the same dates as their times
of ouadrature Uranus on the ninth
finishes its westward arc and turns
eastward again, while Neptune on the
goth stops its eastward motion and
! turns westward.
The October moon is at last quarter
on the third rising on that date at
10 p. NJ. at point far north of the
east point, and mounting high in the
sky as it runs its daily course. The
| ftar tho 18th whom fret