POSITIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL PLANETS

FOR THE SUNDAYS OF THE YEAR. Jan. Feb. (March Apr. May. | June. | July. Aug. Sept.| Oct. | Nov. Dec

Lowest of the entire year, or 57° lower at meridian passage than when highest in December. †Highest of the entire year, or 57° higher when on the meridian than when lowest in June.

THE PLANETS.

SIDEREAL NOON OR MERIDIAN PASSAGE OF THE VERNAL EQUINOX.
For use in connection with star table. See note under same.

Oct. Nov. Dec.

5554

2111

7395

65544888

11 25

155555

1 23
19

15

1 11

DARK OF THE MOON IN 1919.
May June July Aug Sept. Oct.

Ev. Mo Ev. Mo Ev. Mo. Ev. Mo. Ev. Mo. Ev.

........

MOON XXXXXXXIX Explanation: The small divisions represent three hours each, and the light portions show the relative amount and place of moonlight in the 12 hours from 6 p. m. to 6 a. m. of course, allowance must be made for the increase of daylight in summer and the decrease

in winter. Thus, in January the moon will shine until 9 p. m. on the 5th. to midnight on the 9th, to 3 a. m. on the 12th and all night on the 16th: also after 9 p. m. on the 20th. after midnight on the 23d, from 3 a. m. on the 27th and not at all on the 31st.

result is less than the latitude of the place of
the observer that star will neither rise nor set.
but is circumpolar, and the difference between
that result and the latitude shows the star's
altitude above the north point of the horizon or
below the southern horizon. Or (90°-dec.)-lat.
alt. or elevation of the star above the nearest
point of the horizon at meridian_passage for
stars of a southern declination. Examples:
Sidereal noon, Oct. 30,
9:27 p. m.
Fomalhaut in Merid."' col., 22:48

60°,

Fomalhaut, dec. 30° S. 90° 30° 40° 20°, altitude of Fomalhaut in latitude 40 at its meridian passage. To measure celestial distances with the eye keep in mind that onethird of the distance from the zenith to the horizon is 30°. For smaller measurements use the belt of Orion, 3° long, or the sides of the square of Pegasus; the "pointers" in the "big dipper," which are nearly 5° apart-a convenient celestial yardstick because always to be seen. In the case of a star whose dec. is such as to bring it nearer to the zenith than to a horizon at meridian passage, it will be more convenient to use its zenith distance as a means of locating it. The difference between the latitude and dec. is this zenith distance. If the dec. is greater than the latitude then such distance is to be counted northward, otherwise southward from the zenith.

STORY OF OUR WORLD FAMILY FOR A. D. 1919. MERCURY, because of his closeness to the sun and consequent rapid motion, is visible only a few times in our year, as mentioned under "Planets, Brightest." Possibly we see in this dodging about the reason for the adoption of Mercury as the god of thieves, with wings on his feet, messenger of the gods, his true motion being known long before the present era. He shows to us, with optical aid, the phases of Venus, being slightly crescent when at his brightest, and hence we know he shines by reflected light, even as we do to those who may see the earth from another planet. The inclination of his orbit to that of our own is such that he passes between us and the sun (transits) at intervals of 13, 7, 10 and 3 years, the 10 year periods affording May transits and the others November. The last one was in November, 1914, and the next will be in May, 1924. He will be about one degree north of Mars March 11, as they set together about one hour after sunset. The Great Square of Pegasus will be seen directly north of them, and Alpheratz and Algenib-the two eastern stars of the square-pointing directly to them about 10° south of the latter (see chart of the heavens). Mercury will appear brighter and larger than Mars and of a darker hue.

perihelion April 29 and 3° north of the moon May 2, having passed just south of the Pleiades and north of the Hyades the middle of April: close to Jupiter, 2° north, May 25, in Gemini, with Castor and Pollux northeast of her and Saturn about 2 hours farther east or higher; June 1 directly south of Pollux and 6° north of the moon; in Cancer, just east of Praesepe and 2° north of Neptune June 14, but the moonlight will make it difficult to find Neptune at this time; nearly 7° north of the moon July 1 and only 10' south of Saturn July 2, when almost at her greatest distance

BRIGHTES

VENUS

Toward the Sun
N

PHASES

dooD

VENUS

S

G
H

VENUS

BRIGHTE

As seen in the evening east of sun.

west of sun. A. Fifteen days before superior conjunction with the sun (not this year).

VENUS, the most glorious member, is the next in order and will be visible the entire year, with the exception of a few days near the mid- As seen in the morning dle of September, affording much pleasure as she waxes and wanes in brilliancy, first in the evening hours and then in the fall and winter months as a morning star (see the table of the planets and the chart "Visibility of the Principal Planets" elsewhere). The accompanying eut shows all her various phases and change in apparent size, which features are easily seen with slight optical aid, especially when viewed in the daylight.

One argument against the habitability of Venus is that the inclination of her axis (55°) cuts out the temperate zone and throws frigid and torrid zones together, so that in 58 of their days they would pass from the rigors of winter to the heat of summer, though this effect may be ameliorated by the dense cloud masses with which she is apparently enveloped.

Her itinerary among the stars is as follows: Jan. 1, in Sagittarius, just east of the Milkmaid's Dipper, but being at her greatest distance from the sun and earth, she will be very dim for her: 4° south of the moon Jan. 3 and less than 1° south of Uranus Jan. 31: only 35' south of Mars in Pisces Feb. 13. when they will set almost at the same time, Mars disappearing about 5 minutes ahead of her: enters Aries the latter part of March, when about 2 hours east of the sun, and about 10° south of the group of bright stars in the head of the Ram, having passed about 6 south of the moon on Feb. 2 and March 4 and less than 2° south of her on April 3: in

B. At greatest elongation west of the sun, Nov. 23. 1919.

C. When brightest as a morning star, Oct. 15 to 25, 1919. D. Just after inferior conjunction with the sun, Sept. 15 to 20, 1919.

E. Fifteen days after superior conjunction with the sun (not this year) in December, 1918.

F. At greatest elongation east of the sun. early in July, 1919.

G. When brightest as an evening star, Aug. 3 to 13, 1919.

H. Just before inferior conjunction with the sun, Sept. 1 to 10. 1919.

east of the sun, 45° (see chart "Visibility of the Planets") and the brilliant Regulus, at the end of the handle of the Sickle in Leo, only about 2° southeast of them. This makes a magnificent trio of celestial objects, all within the field of small glasses, making it possible to compare them; note the great triangle they form with Arcturus and Spica, right angler at the latter. The closest approach of the planets will be about 9 p. m.-an hour before setting-and the telescope will show Venus as at F in the preceding illustration, as well as

the rings of Saturn and the companion to Regulus. Venus' increase in brightness will be very marked from this on to her maximum Aug. 8. appearing then as at G and being about 25° nearer the sun than when most distant the first part of July. Her eastward motion will diminish rapidly until she becomes nearly stationary and at aphelion Aug. 19, after which she will retrograde as long as she is visible (appearing as in H) in the evening twilight. She passes directly between the earth and sun Sept. 13, being invisible for a few days before and after that date, and when next visible she will be a morning star, west of the sun. She has been photographed within one day of inferior conjunction, when only a fine threadlike crescent is shown, but, of course, the direct sun rays were shut out. After her conjunction she will continue her retrograde motion, but more slowly, until again stationary Oct. 2. after which she will advance eastward the remainder of the year, reaching her point of greatest brilliancy Oct. 20, when in the middle of Leo and close to the moon (2° north). A telescopic view of Venus at this time will cause the novice to think the crescent moon is in the field, so alike will they appear. Their nearest approach will be when both are below the horizon: again on Nov. 18 the moon will pass her 5° to the south, and she will attain her greatest distance west of the sun (46° 44') Nov. 23, and on the last of November only 4% north of the brilliant Spica Virginis; 4° north of the moon Dec. 18, with the Square of Libra just west of them, and ends the year still in Libra.

with the aid of small glasses, or, as some claim, by the naked eye at its best, when looking out from a dark room with no moonlight or artificial light to hinder. His close conjunction with Venus May 25 and Mars Sept. 2 was mentioned under those heads. While Jupiter is the giant of our family, his day is the shortest, about 10 hours, and his year about 12 of ours so he will only traverse about one sign in a year, and at the end of this year he will be about 10° west of the Sickle, in Leo. The moon will pass him Jan. 15, Feb. 11, March 10. April 6 and May 4, all about 2° to the south. He will be dim in June, invisible in July and dim again in August, having been in conjunction with the sun July 21. As a morning star he will be first well visible in September, and will be in conjunction with the moon Sept. 20. Oct. 18, Nov. 14 and Dec. 11, in all of which he will be about 6° north of the moon.

The possessor of a small telescope always finds it pleasurable to watch the phenomena of his major moons as they pass into or out of his shadow, behind him (occultation) or across his face (transit). It was these phenomena that first gave mankind a knowledge of the velocity of light-the supposed error in predicted times of events varied some 16 minutes 38 seconds, according to whether the observation was made at or near conjunction with the sun or at or near opposition, or at points separated by the diameter of the earth's orbit, hence one-half of that difference must represent the time a ray of light requires to traverse 93.000.000 miles - roughly 93.000.000+500 or 186.000. Now we reverse the process, finding the velocity of light experimentally and then compute the sun's distance as 92.979.000 miles, taking 186,330 miles as the velocity of light per second.

SATURN will be bright in January and in February, rising at and near sunset. He will decrease in brilliancy and in angular distance from the sun until lost in the evening twilight the latter part of July: reaches conjunction with the sun Aug. 25, when he becomes a morning star, being dim in October and 90° west of the sun Dec. 4, when he qualifies as an evening star again.

By comparing the positions of Saturn and Jupiter for the past few years, as given in this story, the reader will perceive that these two leviathans of the heavens are steadily approaching and they will, in fact, come into conjunction in 1921, when some believe great happenings will take place in consequence.

MARS will not be at his average best within the year and not until the fall and winter months will he be even attractive, being invisible in May, in conjunction with the sun, and dim for weeks before and after that time. When first visible, after his conjunc-March and an all night star, and brightest tion with the sun May 9, as a morning star, he will be in the middle of Taurus, with the Hyades just west of him. He passes from Taurus into Gemini July 8, and by Aug. 10 reaches a position directly between Procyon, in Canis Minor and Pollux and within about 10° of the latter, being 5° north of the moon Aug. 23 and in close conjunction with Jupiter Sept. 2. being 41' north of him, and close to the Praesepe in the body of the Crab. Praesepe is a large cluster of dim stars appearing as a nebula to the naked eye, and which has often been mistaken for a comet. This very near approach of these planets in the morning sky will be a pretty sight, as they will rise almost at the same time, Mars appearing first at about 2:40 a. m. It will repay early risings. About 1° north of Neptime Sept. 7, but the moonlight will make the seeing poor, and it will not be worth one's time to try to see Neptune at this time. He will be about 6° north of the moon Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. On Oct. 7 he will pass less than 1° north of Regulus or Cor Leonis, the Heart of the Lion, keeping near that noble star and asterism for many days, affording a very pleasing sight from about 3 a. m. till lost in the morning twilight. He will almost eclipse Saturn Oct. 24. passing only 5' north of the ringed planet, so that they will appear almost as a great double star, both rising at 2 a. m. in the north and about 10 minutes later in the south; passes from Leo to Virgo the last of November, and at the end of the year will be about 5° north of Spica Virginis, and almost at his brightest. JUPITER will be at his very best, outshining Mars when at his best, the first of the year, rising at sunset and shining all night in Gemini, where he makes the apex of a fine isosceles triangle with Castor and Pollux, just to the northeast of him. Castor, the most northern of the two, is the greatest double star of the heavens-a binary-and the greater companion being separable from the primary

He will be in Eastern Cancer and Western Leo throughout the year and close to that striking group known as the Sickle, being only 1° north of the lucida of that asterism-Regulus-the latter part of July, setting about 9 p. m. with Venus a few degrees farther east or higher up, making a very pretty combination (see under Venus for July 2, when these planets will be so close as almost to blend into one). His conjunctions with the moon will not be close. being about 7° north of her, as follows: Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 14, April 10, May 7. June 4 and July 5 as evening star, and Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 13 (see under Mars Oct. 24, when he will almost suffer an eclipse by Mars).

His rings are fast working into an edgewise position with respect to our line of vision, which, when accomplished, will render them invisible except in the most powerful telescopes, which will be the case in three years

more.

URANUS AND NEPTUNE-By such of our readers as possess telescopes Οι moderate power these most distant members may be seen, but to make sure the close proximity of some other planet or a star is very desirable or absolutely necessary, and such an opportunity is not well afforded this year at or near the time when they will be at their brightest.