The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-12
Today S Science
BY DAVID DIETZ-

MENUS, most beautiful of all planets, returns to
the evening sky this month for the first time
last February. Since that time, the planet has
been the morning sky.
Look for Venus low in the western sky at the time
of sunset. As the months go on. Venus will climb
higher in the sky and become brighter 1t will at
tain its maximum brillance next August, on Aug. 3
TO be exact when it will be Is times brighter than
Sirius. the brightest of all the stars
Venus. twin-sister of the EARTH is the one planet
likely to be inhabited in addition to the EARTH
The planet is about the same size as the earth and
closer to the sun. Dense, heavy white clouds which
surround the planet prevent us from seeing its sur
face.
Mercury also becomes visible in the night sky
during January. Look for Mercury about the last
week of January. 1t will be very low in the West
about the time of sunset, nearer the horizon than
Venus and not so bright.
Little Mercury is the smallest of all the planets.
Only little larger than our noon, it would fit
forably the Atlantic Ocean 1t is quite certain
that the planet is uninhabed, for it always keeps
the same face turned toward the sun. Trying to
live that face would be like trying to live the
lid Of a red-hot stove. The other face is as cold
empty space.
In addition. Mercury is known to have no atmos-
phere.
The planet Saturn. which has been visible in the
night sky during most of 1884 disappeared.
As matter Of fact. 1t disappeared in December. 1t
is in the morning sky. but too close to the
to be visible. In the morning sky also are Mars and
Jupiter.
A STRONOMERS this month are most interested
n in the new star or that appeared in the
constellation of Hercules IN December. Astronomers
in all observatories have it under careful watch.
Dr.. j. j. Nassau. director of the Warner & Swasey
Observatory OF Case School Of Applied Science re-
ports that he has taken &c photographs Of the nova.
Nova Herouis hared forth into new brillance on
Dec "A More exactly 1t was first noted to have done
on that date. The nova was discovered by John
P NJ PrintlCe. a British meteor observer.
Actually. what Mr.. Printce observed on Dec. IA
had taken place 1909 years earlier Nova Hercus is
1900 light years away That means its light takes
1900 years to reach and consequently have just
become aware Of something that happened TO this
star~15O0 years ago.
ONCE the discovery of Nova Herculis astronomers
- have been examining old Photographic plates to
find the past history Of the star. Several hundred
plates were located which contained photographs Of
the star These revealed that it had been Of a
magnitude Of l46 Oct 1. 1884. At that time, it
Will be seen It was an extremely faint star
However. photographs on Nov. Il. 1884. show it
to have increased 10 magnitude OF 1873 1t may be
said therefore that the star vas already beginning
10 flare up at that time.
BY Dec. 9. as already mentioned the star reached
a magnitude Of g. This means that between Oct
and Dec. g. the brightness Of the star increased
100000 times
II is nov known that the increase in brightness
OF nova is due to some tremendous heating in the
outer regions OF the This increase in radiation
pressure seems to blow the outer layers of the stars
atmosphere out like a balloon
SpectroScopic measurements indicate the speed
with which the outer envelope Of the star expands
In the case of Nova Herculis, the measurements in
dicate velocity Of 100 miles second.