Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-04
THE JUNE SKIES
The Summer soIstice-Iongest Day2 OF
the Yenr-The Moons Phases-The
Planetary Program.


the sun at the summer sostice; that is.
the point farthest north in the suns APP
parent path among the stars. In 1914 this
occurs on June 20. at 1855 a. M. at which
time astronomical midsummer is reach
ed. At any place in the northern hernis-
phere from the equator to the Arctic cir
Gle the longest day and shortest night OF
the year will be experienced at this time
Within the Arctic circle this marks the
central period of the long summer day.
exceeding "a hours, and at the North Pole
lasting for half of the year. In the south
ern hemisphere these conditions are re-
versed, giving us the shortest day of tho
winter and the middle of the long night
within the Antarctic circle.
The solstice is not the same point every
year, but moves toward the west about
80 seconds a year and toward the south
nea rly . seconds. At the beginning Of
the Christian era it was in declination %
degrees 40 minutes n. in the constellation
Cancer, but is now in Geminl in declina-
ton % degrees q minutes n. The time Of
the solstice is about six hours later each
year, except in leap year, when 1t comes
about Is hours earlier. This is because
our year contains nearly 1866 days six
hours After the End the days begin to
diminish in length For a time however,
more heat is received In the daytime than
is lost a. night so that meteorological mid
summer does not coincide with astronoml-
cal midsummer but comes several weeks
later. in our latitude about August /.
Toward the end of June the earth is ap-
preaching its greatest distance from the
sun which tends to lessen the heat Of our
Northern summers
The moon begins the month in first
quarter. is full on the Sth. reaches last
quarter on the 18th, is new on the 23rd and
reaches first quarter again on the 30th. 1t
Is unusual to have the moon pass through
first quarter twice in the same calendar
month. particularly in a month OF 80 days.
as the period from full moon to full moon
is % days. - hours and a minutes. The
moon runs lowest in the sky on the Sth
and highest on the 23rd. It is nearest the
earth on the 9Th and farthest away on the
nth.
In planetary annals the event Of the
month Is the appearance OF Mercury in the
evening sky. This planet starts the month
in Taurus and moves eastward and south
ward among the stars through Taurus,
Gemlni and Cancer. On the 18th II reaches
its greatest elongation from the sun and
may be seen for few evenings about that
time shining low in. the west directly
above the sunset point. On the 18th Mer-
curry sets about one and one-half hours
after sunset, and will be almost directly
south of the bright star Pollux in Gemini.
The planet Will he the brighter of the two,
although as seen through telescope only
36 per cent. of its disc is illuminated. Mer-
curry will not appear gain in the evening
sky until October
Venus will be conspicuous in the west
during the early evening throughout the
month, az it does not set until about $3.50
p. m. This planet Is moving eastward and
southwark through Gemni and Cancer.
Although over so per cent OF the disc is
now illuminated. Venus Is very far dis
tant from the earth. and hence only one
third as bright as it will be next Decem-
Der However. 1t is by far the brightest
object in the sky and cannot be mistaken
IL once seen.
Mars is moving eastward and south
ward and passes this month from Cancer
into Leo. II sets on the LIST about 1870 p.
m. and on the 3oth about 1O:15, so that it
will be visible throughout the month in
less than one degree north OF the bright
star Regulus in the handle of the Sickle
of Leo.
Jupiter moves eastward in Capricornus
until the 1lth, when it becomes stationary
and then retrogrades or moves westward
for the rest of the month. 1t Is fast COM
ing into good position for observation, ris.
ing on the lst at II 30 p m. and the 3Oth
about $3.50. Jupiter is 10 degrees south of
the equator, and hence rises in the south
east.
Saturn is still in Taurus, but is now lost
in the suns rays. On the 18th this planet
is in conjunction with the sun and changes
from the evening to the morning sky. Two
celestial objects are said TO he In con-
junction when they have the same right
ascension. This does not necessarily
mean that they are exactly in the same
direction as seen from the earth It Is as
If a moving body on the earth were re-
| garded as In conjunction with some city
when il crossed the meridian of that city,
even n It passed north or south OF the
city. Toward the end OF the month Sa-
turn will be visible In the morning sky
just before sunrise. II rises on the 30th
about 3:15 y. m
Uranus continues a slow retroerade mo-
ton in the constellation CRpricornus. II
is now nearing OPPOSITION and hence above
the horizon practically all night. On the
llth about 1870 p, m. the moon will pass
degree ~ minutes south of the planet,
Uranus may be seen through "A telescope
directed at Right Ascension ooh. 57min.,
and Defamation II degrees SIS minutes.
Neptune is low in the west at sunset and
not well situated for observation. 1t
moves this month from Gemini into Can
GER. On the 9Th about D. m 1t will be in
conjunction with Venus. which passes .
degrees "A minutes north Of Neptune.
Kritzinger's comet. discovered at Both
kamp. Germany, last March, will. accord
ing to the latest orbit computed for II,
pass perihelon June s. II is now visible
through a three or four-inch telescope
and may be found on the LIST In the con-
stellation Cygnus near Right Ascension
20h. 40 min, and declination Il degrees Q
minutes 1t will not become visible to the
naked eye,
The late hour Of sunset makes June a
poor month for star gazing. In the early
evening the zodiacal groups visible are
Gemini setting in the west, followed by
Cancer and Leo west of the meridian,
Still farther east are Virgo and Libra,
while Scorpio is rising in the southeast.
The bright quadrilateral in the south,
west Of the meridian. is Corvus Low in
the southwest Is the faint line of stars in
Hydra The bright star almost overhead
is Arcturus in Bootes, The cluster west
of Arcturus is Coma Berenices. The ring
of stars northeast of Arcturus is In CO.
roma Borealis, Still farther east are Her