The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-01-21
ECLIPSES SCARCE THIS YEAR.
Those Scheduled of Little Interest
Venus Still Visible.

During the year 1915 there will
be almost a dearth of eclipses, which
means a minimum of regular astro-
nomical phenomena, says the Wash
ington Star. There are to be two
annulur eclipses OF the sun, first of
which occurs February Is and the
second on August 10. Neither of
these will have much interest for
American observers because neither
will be visible in the United States or
Canada. Both are visible in the
southern Pacific and Indian oceans.
Of the FIVE comets discovered IN
1914, the third discovered (Neug-
min) will be very faint at the begin
ming of 1915, and being in the same
part of the sky as the sun will hard
" be visible. The remaining two,
Encke's and Campbell's, may still be
seen in the far South and rather faint
for any but the largest telescopes.
Delevan's comet, the most consp1c-
uous celestial wandered in the
heavens and an object of intense as
Economical interest during the year
1914, is almost out of reach Of north
ern observatories. However, it will
continue to be quite bright for three
or four months.
Schedule Of Comets.
Two of the best known periodic
comets are due to arrive at perihel-
ion during the present year. The
first of these, Winnecke, if it arrives
according to it's period determined
at former returns will. be at perihel-
ion-the point at which the comet
is at its least distance from the sun
about the middle of September.
The earth will be nearest the point
of the perihelion of this comet two
and a half months before this date.
The second of these, Swift's comet,
is due at perihelion July Z. This
comet will be nearest the earth and
near a point of opposition a few
months after this date.
The planet Venus so conspicuous
in the southeastern sky, and now.the
most observed Of all celestial objects
in the early morning heavens and
long after daylight, began its circuit
of the sky on the boundary between
Libra and Scorpio and ends the year
between Sagittarius and Capricornus,
thus traversing a path one and one
sixth times the circuit of the heav-
ems, ending its course four hours to
the east of the starting point. For
a large part of the year Venus Will
be a most brilliant object; the morn
ing star for the first half of the
year, then moving toward the sun,
and passing on the other side of the
sun from about the middle Of Sep
tember, later in November or Decem-
Der appearing as an evening star.
The "SpIendor of Heaven"
The Arabs called Venus Ell Zorah,
the "Splendor of Heaven" when the
planet is near inferior conjunction
with the earth. Sirius pales to insig-
nifcance to the splendor of Venus.
To many who are unfamiliar with
the sky Venus appears incredibly
brilliant for a star, and since the de-
velopment of electric lamps she has
often been mistaken for an aerial
signal sent up in the night. When
Napoleon returned to Paris after his
campaigns in Italy he was astounded
to see the crowds around the palace
of the Luxembourg fixing their eyes
upon the sky. He looked up and
saw Venus cleaning there in the full
daylight. The people applauded the
apparition as his star.
Easy to See Venus.
1t is not difficult to see Venus by
day if one knows exactly where to
look and when her distance is re-
duced to about 26,O0O,0oO miles and
her light being concentrated almost
to a point it impresses the eyes with
dazzling effulgence.