THE SUN AND PLANETS FOR JUNE, 1883. 99 
not hold the earth on its path, but would snap like a thread, sending our world 
headlong into frigid space. Of course, the weight of the bar itself has not 
entered into this reasoning. Or, if the Earth should stop in its orbit, it would at 
once begin to fall, and a mass of cast iron equal to its diameter would be crushed. 
What is this mighty engine for? Does it labor solely for our existence? Are we 
worthy of it all ? Did God intend that such colossal power should be chained to 
the servitude of beings who slay one another in war? Does the gigantic Sun 
hold the world in place simply as an abode of creatures filled with vice, misery 
and debasement? Or, are beings out of harmony with God and His goodness 
fit for the home provided at such'cost ? Really, in our present state, we do not 
seem worthy ; it appears unreasonable that such energies should struggle in cease- 
less round, — all for us. The only reason we can see why such powers were 
assigned to our use, is that humanity will eventually advance morally and men- 
tally, until they do become suitable beings to receive such manifestations of the 
Divine care. 
New Windsor (III.) Observatory, May 10, 1883. 
THE SUN AND PLANETS FOR JUNE, 1883. 
W. DAWSON, SPICELAND, IND. 
The Sun moves in right ascension about two hours each month. So his R. 
A. will be 4h. 37m. on June ist at noon, and 6h. 37m. on June 30th. He passes 
the summer solstice (in R. A. 6h, com.) June 21, a few minutes after noon. 
This will be the longest day of the year — i4h. 50m. in latitude 40°, along the 
north line of Kansas. On the south line of Kansas, 37°, it will be i4h 32m.' 
18 minutes shorter than 3° farther north. On June 7, Regulus will south at 5 
o'clock in the evening; but can be oserved with a small transit instrument. On 
the same evening Denebola will south at 6 41. Spica, the bright star in Virgo, 
souths on that evening at 8:16. Remember that all the stars south about four 
minutes earlier each day on account of the Sun's increase of right ascension, and 
this is caused by the Earth's annual rotation. 
The Moon becomes new, or "changes," on the 4th near midnight — one 
lunar month after the great eclipse. May 6th. This time she will pass a little 
south of the Sun, and there cannot be an eclipse on the Earth. 
The Moon will pass over Saturn again — producing an occultation — about 3 
o'clock in the morning of the 4th; but too near the Sun to be well observed. 
She will pass near Spica on the 14th. The Moon's north edge will nearly graze 
a star of fourth magnitude on the 21st. 
Jupiter still "holds the fort" as an evening star, though he is just approaching 
the eve of conjunction with the Sun. Saturn has passed the Sun and is now a 
morning star. Mercury, after so brilliant a display in May, has now shut him- 
VII- 7 
