SUN AND PLANETS FOR OCTOBER, 1884. 307 



25m. This eastward motion of the Sun makes the stars appear to go as far west- 

 ward and set four minutes earlier every day. 



The Earth's orbit being inclined to the celestial equator, and now moving in 

 its northern half, gives the Sun a southern declination; which, October ist, is 3° 

 32', increasing to 14° 25' on the 31st. This increasing southern declination of 

 the Sun causes a shortening of our days from rih. 40m. to loh. 20m. Spots on 

 the Sun are still numerous, though quite variable in number and size. Only fif- 

 teen were visible September 2d, but ninety were counted on the nth; one large 

 group near the center of the Sun having seventy-seven spots. 



Full Moon occurs on the 4th of October, when there will be a lunar eclipse 

 — total in Europe and Africa; but the Moon don't rise here until the total phase 

 is passed ; so there will only be a partial eclipse in Eastern America — but it will 

 hardly extend as far west as Kansas City — being over before the Moon rises 

 there. On the i8th new Moon occurs, when there will be a partial eclipse of 

 the Sun, visible to northwest America, north Pacific Ocean, and Eastern Siberia. 

 It will extend over California, Oregon, and Washington Territory, just before the 

 Sun sets there. 



The morning skies in October this year will display a diamond brightness. 

 Some of the most brilliant stars are now at their heights in early dawn — notably 

 Sirius, Aldebaran, and Cappella, the grand constellation of Orion, and the beau- 

 tiful Pleiades. All the bright planets, except one, are also morning stars. On 

 the ist Mercury rises at 4:30 A. M., just a little north of due east. Thus it may 

 be easily seen for a i^^^ mornings in the fore part of October. Venus rises soon 

 after 2 A. M. and is much the brightest star now visible. Through September it 

 could easily be seen with the naked eye at 9 A. M. when near the meridan. It 

 will not be quite so bright in October. It still crosses the meridan about 9 in the 

 morning, at an elevation of 62° in the fore part of the month and 52° on the 

 31st. Venus will be near Jupiter in the morning of the 6th. It also passes near 

 Regulus, a star of first magnitude, in the evening of the 7th, and will be near 

 enough to be worth looking at in the mornings of the 7th and 8th. 



Mars is now a day object — rising about 9 A. M. in the southeast and setting 

 near 7 P. M. in the southwest. Hence of little or no interest. Jupiter is just 

 north of Venus in the morning of the 6th. They are both fine objects for obser- 

 vation with a telescope. But Saturn is still prettier, and four hours west— near 

 the boijndary between Taurus and Gemini; on the meridian a little before 5 A. 

 M. October ist, and two hours earlier on the 31st. The ring is near its widest, 

 and is a lovely object for observation. In the latter part of October Saturn will 

 rise about 8 P. M. Uranus is near the Autumnal Equinox, in 12 hours of R. 

 A. Neptune is in Taurus, about 7° southwest of Pleiades. 



