SUN AND PLANETS FOR DECEMBER, 1884. 445 



ASTRONOMY. 



SUN AND PLANETS FOR DECEMBER, 1884. 



W. DAWSON, SPICELAND, IND, 



As Stated in the November Review, the Sun's R. A. on the 30th was 16 h. 

 27 m. Hence on December ist it will be 16 h. 33 m.; and on 31st 18 h. 46 m. 

 The increase being somewhat more than four minutes a day is caused by the Sun 

 moving faster on account of being nearer the Earth than it was near the middle 

 of the year — speaking of appannt motion caused by real motion of the Earth. 

 On December 21st at 4 o'clock in the morning the Sun's R. A. is just 18 h.; when 

 it is farthest south (23° 27'). This is the shortest day, and the beginning of win- 

 ter season. It will be 9 h. 10 m. long in 40° north latitude — longer south of this 

 latitude, and shorter north of it. 



At this writing (November 8lh) the Sun appears again without spots — the 

 third time in more than four years. The other two times were February 23d 

 and May 27, 1883. 



Those who study the westward motion of the stars will observe new constel- 

 lations in the east week after week; and occasionally a planet appearing earlier 

 than it did in the Autumn time. 



On December ist, at 7 P. M., the Pleiades are three hours high; Aldebaran 

 nearly one hour below; and the Belt of Orion just rising in the east. Capella is 

 away north of the Seven-stars, and Saturn below — making nearly an equilateral 

 triangle with Pleiades and Capella. Jupiter rises about 1 1 P. M. during the first 

 week of December; being a fine morning star. Venus rises about 4 A. M. — still 

 bright, though waning. Mercury is an evening star this month; being at greatest 

 elongation east on the 17th when it may be visible to the naked eye, though too 

 far south (of west) to be conspicuous. It will be in conjuction with Mars on the 

 4th and also on the 29th. 



The Moon will pass over a fourth magnitude star near 8 P. M. December 

 4th, and another one near 7 P. M. on the 22d. Both these will be interesting 

 phenomena; and may be observed with very small telescopes — if the sky is 

 clear. 



VIU-29 



