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
since last February Since that time the planet has
been in 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 briliance next August, on Aug.
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
most 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 from seeing its sur
face
Mercury also becomes visible in the night sky
dur.ug 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 moon, it would fit COM
1ortaby 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 De like trying to live on the
lid of red-hot stove. The other face is as cold as
empty space.
In addition, Mercury is known to have atmos-
phere.
The planet Saturn which has been visible in the
night sky during most of 1884 has now disappeared
AS matter of fact it disappeared in December. 1t
is in the morning sky but too close to the sun
TO DE visible In the morning sky also are Mars and
Jupiter.
A STRONONIERS this month are most interested
in the new star or nova 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 Herculis fared forth into new brillance
Dec. "A More exactly it first noted to have done
that date. The nova was discovered by John
P. NJ. Printice. a British meteor observer.
Actually. what Mr. Printice observed on Dec. IA
had taken place 1900 years earlier. Nova Hercus
1900 light years away. That means its light takes
1900 years reach and consequently have just
become aware of something that happened to this
star 1900 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 I46 on Oct 4. 1884 At that time it
will be seen. II was extremely faint star
However. photographs on Nov. IA 1884. show it
to have increased TO a magnitude Of 1873 1t may be
said therefore that the star vas already beginning
10 fare up at that time.
BY Dec. g. 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
1t is now known that the increase in brightness
of a nova is due TO some tremendous heating in the
outer regions of the star This increase III radiation
pressure seems blow the outer layers of the stars
atmosphere out like balloon.
SpectroScopic measurements indicate the speed
with which the outer envelope Of the star expands
In the case OF Nova Herculis, the measurements
dicate velocity of 100 miles second.