The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-10-02

star, and though 1t is now rapidly re-
ceding from the earth and therefore
growing fainter 1t Is still most brill
liant object, shining with no less than
81 times the brightness Of standard
first magnitude star.
The planet will at once attract the
attention of the observer if he will
face due east on any October morn-
ing not earlier than two hours be-
fore sunrise. On the morning of Oc-
tober IS, Venus will pass north of
the bright star Regulus; the two Or
jects will then be separated by a
distance not greater than one aalf
the apparent distance across the face
of the moon, and they will form a
striking and interesting figure in the
morning sky.
Mars is rapidly drawing nearer OH
evening heavens; on October l Il rose
in the east at about 1890 o'clock p Nj.
but by the end of the month ii VII
appear one hour earlier. This planet
and the earth are steadily drawing
nearer together their distance apart
diminishing from Jos millions to SO
millions OF miles during the month.
The brightness will increase during
this interval one and one-half timca.
But the planet will not be in its most
favorable position for observation I'M
til few minutes have elapsed.
Jupiter may still be well observed
In the very early evening, but this Is
the last month of the present year
when it can be seen. 1t is now low
in the southwest in the constellation
Sagittarius, just above the inverted
bowl of the little Milk Dipper.
Saturn has now entered our evening
sky, to remain with us throughout
the autumn and winter, not finally
withdrawing In the west until n eXt
May. This will be found a most
beautiful object in the telescope. The
wonderful ring system is widely open-
ed out; as both the earth and the sun
are now far below the plane of the
rings these can be seen to excellent
advantage.
The Occupation of the Plelades.
If the observer will turn to the
Pleiades at about an hour after m G.
night of October II he will see thai
the moon is drawing very near this
little group of stars. Unfortunat ely
none of the six brightest stars of the
group will be hidden as viewed from
the vicinity of Washington, but our
satellite will be seen to pass very
near them, and with a small tale-
scope the OCCUPATIONS of many of the
outlying fainter stars may be OBJ
served.
The moon is so very near the earth
that its apparent path among the
stars changes its position greatly as
the observer changes his position OIL
the earth. But by noticing the posi-
ton of the moon with reference to the
group of stars soon after midnight
eastern standard time), and remer-
bering that the moon moves eastward
distance equal to its own diameter
in about one hour. the observer can
readily estimate what stars will be
hidden as viewed from his station and
about the times when their occulta-
tons will take place. Not only their
sudden disappearance at the bright
edge of the moon but also their re-
appearance, one after another, at the
dark edge, forms a most interesting
phenomenon for observation.
When the moon has drawn near
the Pleiades 1t will be noticed that
there is plenty of room for her round
disc to be contained within the bowl
of the dipper, between Alcyone aud
Electra. There are few observers
who, If looking at the Pleiades when
the moon is not in this part of the
heavens, would not feel certain that
the disc of our satellites covers an
area of the sky far larger than that
occupied by this group of stars.
EPIC DOOI ITrI Il