Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-01-28
FIVE PLANETS NEXT MONTH.
Eclipse of Sun Thrown In for Good
Measure-Ten Unusual Spectacles In
Heavens in February.


Shortest month of the 10, the Feb
ruary of this year promises to be one
of the richest in what it has to offer
astronomically.
l. In the first place the extra day
in this month, which constitutes the
entire "leap year, provides us with
calendar different from any enjoyed
since the centennial year, 1876, 40
years ago; and different from any that
will follow for IS years longer, when
1914 will have begun.
This is a leap year beginning on
Saturday, containing SO Saturdays and
53 Sundays, such as no person under
40 years of age ever knew before.
2. The third of February brings
us total eclipse of the sun visible as
partial eclipse in the morning
hours, all over the United States, Can
ada and the northern part of South
America. The path of totally, per-
haps 100 miles wide, lies mostly on
south and east of Panama.
Though the eclipse will be only par
tial with us, it will be well worth
seeing, the eyes being carefully pro-
tected by we'll smoked glass. The
black disc of the moon will be plainly
visible, and its progress across the
sun s face full of interest.
3. A beautiful conjunction of tho
moon with brilliant Venus occurs on
the 9th, and the two bodies may be
seen together i'll the west, both the
9Th and the 9th, shortly after sunset
A. A beautiful conjunction of the
moon with only less brilliant Jupiter
occurs on the 9TH, the two bodies seen
together in the west, as darkness
comes. on both the 9th and 9TH. The
majestic advance of the lunar cres-
cent past these two most glorious orbs
should be carefully watched in tho
early evenings of the 5th, 9th and
9TH.
5. Tho planet Mars, now rising in
the east, early in the evening, will
come to Opposition at . a. M, on
the 10th. This term means opposite
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
the nearest each other.
1t is, however, further from the
earth S path to Mars's path at some
points than at others; and so it hap
pens that, at this opposition, Mars is
distant about 60,000,000 miles, where
as sometimes he approaches as near as
100000 miles.
Even so, Mars, the supposedly in
habited planet, will be big and bright,
u conspicuous figure in our evening
IClS
omers are straining their visions to
gather fresh evidence as to life on
Mars.
6. On the 14th occurs a very close
conjunction of the two planets, We
nus and Jupiter, which may be viewed
in the west, shortly after sunset,
either the 18th or the 14th. The cen
ters will be less than half degree
apart, and if the moon happened to be
passing at the time it could just carry
them on its two horns.
7. On the 10Th there will be a con
junction between the moon and Sat.
urn, the two being seen in close rela
tions on the 14th and 18th. This mar
velous planet can thus be located and
its mysterious rings seen with moder
ate magnifying power.
8. On the 18th there will be q con
junction of the moon with the great
red Mars, the two being seen in close
company both the 18th and 18th, Mar!
being 5A degrees north Of the moon
9. During the last week or 10 days
of February the shy little planet Mcr
curry will be visible, for on the first
of March Mercury reaches its great
est westward distance from the sun IA
seen from the earth, and as this is
unusually great it will afford an un
usually good opportunity to catch thu
feetfooted 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 priv
ilege may be enjoyed through the frs
week in March.
Mercury S path is innermost among
the cOncentric orbits Of the eigh
planets; hence it is always near tn,
sun and usually is lost in its glory
Multitudcs have lived and died with
out ever seeing it. But here is |
chance to escape that fate.
10. Finally, all the five planets CIV
err visible may be seen this month, al
but Mercury in the evening. Tn
splendid winter consultations are al
so majestically sweeping by, witt
eight great first-magnitude stars on
; of the Is ever seen in our latitude, al
visible at the same moment.