The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-05
AN UNUSUAL MONTH
WONDERS OF SKY
February Is Filled With Many
Astronomical MaryeIs.
Calendar Different From Any in
Forty Years.
PLANET MARS NEARS EARTH
Thursdays Eclipse Only Starts
the Months Program.
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury All
Perform Stunts.
Moon and Venus COnjOin in
West Tonight.
Moon and Venus COnjOin in
West Tonight.

This month, the shortest of the year,
is replete with offerings to the astro-
nomical world. First of all, the extra
day this month. Leap Year" makes
the calender different from any in the
past forty years, and for twenty-eight
years to come. This leap year begins
on Saturday and contains SO Satur-
days. This will also be repeated in
the 1000. 81 years from how.
An eclipse of the sun. obscured by
the clouds at Topeka, however, was
the first phenomenon of the month.
The eclipse was total in small part of
South America and the Azores.
Watch Western Sky.
A beautiful conjunction of the moon
with brilliant Venus occurs Sunday
and the two bodies may be seen TO-
gether in the west both tonight and to-
morrow, shortly after sunset.
A beautiful conjunction of the moon
with only less brilliant Jupiter occurs
on Monday, the two bodies seen to-
gether in the west, as darkness comes
on both Sunday and Monday. The
ma jeStic advance of the lunar crescent
past these two most glorious orbs
should be carefully watched in the
early evening tonight, Sunday and
Monday.
Mars Close to the Earth.
The planet Mars. now rising in the
east, with its 1urid hue, early in the
evening, will come to opposition" at 2
p. m. on the 10th. This term means OPP
posite the sun, as seen from the earth; ;
and, as the earth's path is next inside
that of Mars. opposition brings the
two planets side by side, and hence
nearest each other; the actual nearest
approach occurs the day before the
opposition. 1t is. however, further
from the earth's path to Mars's
at some points than at others; and so
Mars is distant about 6O,000.000 miles,
whereas sometimes he approaches as
near as 35.000.00O miles Even So
Mars. the supposedly inhabited planet
will be big and bright. conspicuous
figure in our evening sky for months
Already the astronomers are straining
their vision to gather fresh evidence as
to life on Mars.
Planets Come Together.
On the 14th occurs a very close con-
junction of tn two planets Venus and
Jupiter. which may be viewed in the
west, shortly after sunset. either the
18th or the 14th. The ccnters will be
less than half a degree apart, and if
the moon happened to be passing at
the time it could just carry them on
its two horns. Next to sun and moon.
these are the two brightest orbs in the
heavens; even now they are steadily
approaching, and when they stand to-
gether they will almost appear as a
double star of more than first mag
nitude. The brilliancy of the spec
tacle may be ina gined when it is said
that Venus, when at her brightest. is
IL times as brilliant as Sirius, which
IN turn il five times as bright as any
fixed star seen in our latitude
On the 18th there will be a con-
junction between the moon and Sat
arm. the two being seen il close rela-
lions on the 14th and 18th. This mar
velous planet can thus be located and
its mysterious rings seen with noder-
ate magnifying power.
Moon and Mars.
| On the 18th there will be a con-
| junction of the moon with great red
Mars. the two being seen in close COM
pany both the 18th and 18th, Mars
being 5 q degrees north of the moon.
And those who need it will have this
aid in locating and identifying that
much-talked-of planet, now at opposi-
ton.
During the last week OF ten days of
February the shy little planet Mer-
curry will be visible. for on the LIST OF
March Mercury reaches its greatest
westward distance from the sun as
seen from the earth, and as this is I'M
usually great IT will afford an unusu-
ally good opportunity to catch the
| footed one. This must be done
in the morning dawn, when Mercury
will precede the sun in rising and can
| be seen above the eastern horizon
The same privilege may be enjoyed
through the first week in March Mer-
: cury's path is innermost among the