The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-18
NEW CELESTIAL
VISITORS IN 1915
DEARTH OF ECLIPSE MD MINI
MUM OF OTHER PHENOMENA
DURING YEAR,

During tho year 1915 there viii h.
almost a deartr of eclipses whist
means minimum OF regular astrono-
micai phenomena. There are to lie
two annulus eclipseS of the sun. the
first Of which occurs February ID and
the second on August 10. Neither or
these will have much interest for
American observers because neither
will be visible in the United States or
Canada Both arr visible in the
Southern Pacific and Indian Oceans.
or the five comets discovered in
1914 the third discovered fNeugminb,
will be very faint at the beginning OF
1915. and being In the sa me part OF the
sky as the sun will hardly be visible.
The remaining TWO. Encke's and
CampbeIs. may still be seen in thu
far South and rather faint for any
but the largest telescopes.
nelayan's comet, the most conspicu-
Gus celestial wanderer in the heavens
and an object of intense. astronomical
interest during the year 1914. Is almost
out of reach of northern ohservatorIes.
However, 1t 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 perihedon
during the present year The first OF
these. Winnecke. II it arrives accord
ing to its period determined at former
returns will be at perihelion--the point
at which the comet is at its least dis
lance from the sun--about the middle
OF September. The earth will be near
est 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 persheiion July Z. This comet
will be nearest the earth and near a
point of opposition few months after
this date
The planet Venus. NO conspicuous in
the southeastern sky. and now the
most deserved OF all celestial objects In
the early morning heavens and long
after daylight, began its circuit OF the
sky on the boundary hetween Libra
and Scorpio and ends the year between
Sagittarius and Capricornus. thus
traversing a path one and one-stxth
times the circuit of the heavens. end
ing its course four hours To the east of
the starting point. Fer "A large part
of the year Venus will be n most bril-
liant object; the morning star for the
first half of the year. then moving to-
ward the sun, and passing on the
other side OF the sun from about tn~
middle OF September, later in Novarn-
Der or December appearing as an
evening star.
The "Splsasior OF Heaven"
The Arabs called Venus FL Zorah,
the "Splendor of Heaven" when the
planet is near inferior conjunction
with the earth. Sirius paies to in
significance to the spiendor II Venus.
To many who are unfamiliar with the
sky. Venus appears incredibly brill
liant for star and since the develop
ment 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 mp and saw
Venus cleaning there in the full day
light The people appiauded the APP
partition as his star.
II In not difficult to see Venus by day
liz one knows exactly where to look
and when her distance is reduced to
about $4,000, 600 miles, and her light
being concentrated almost to point
1t impresses the eyes with dazzling
Ieffuigence.