ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA OF 1881.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2290, 4 August 1881, Page 3

ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA OF 1881.

The " San Francisco Bulletin" has a very interesting article on the above subject. The present year is full of extraordinary astronomical phenomena, the appearance of which has long been anticipated and the subject of varied predictions. The planetary relations are interesting and important, as they will set at rest many theories concerEing the influence of the various members of the solar system on one another. The planetary phenomena oonsist of unusual conjunctions during that period when these heavenly bodies are in perihelion—namely, at that point in their orbits neareßt the sun. Some aßtronomers hold that the planetary phenomena of the present year have not occurred in the world's history since the mosaio creation. There is not a month of the year but what two or more of the planets are in conjunction. But the most noteworthy of these planetary relations will occur in the months of July, August, and November. On or about the 17th or 19th of July, most of the planets will be in the zodiacal sign of Taurus, and almost in conjunction, with the Earth in the sign Aquarius. The planet Uranus will be the only one excepting the Earth whioh will not at that period be in Taurus. Strange phenomena are predicted in some quarters from this unusual relationship, as the attraction of all the planets excepting Uranus will bo on one side of the solar orb, while that of the Earth only will be on the other. On the 12th August, Neptune, Jupiter, and Mercury will be in conjunction, and Venus and Mars will also be in the Bame condition. On September 7th there will be another double conjunction, namely, that of Neptune and Jupiter, and Saturn and Mars. Bnt in the early part of November all the planets will be on one side of the Sun. Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth, and Mercury will be emerging from the sign Taurus and entering Geminii. Venus and Uranus being at the same time ia Virgo. On the 7th of that month the planets Mercury, Earth, and Neptune will be in inferior conjunction, and the planets Venus and Uranus in longitudinal line. Another astronomical phenomenon of the present year has a direct relationship with the Great Pyramid of Egypt, which, whatever other significance belongs to it, is pretty generally oonoedod to have been erected for astronomical observation. Bnt one of the moßt notable astronomical events which the Great _ Pyramid commemorates, and which will this year be repeated, will be the appearance of the star a Draoonis in a line with the Great Gallery or entrance passage of the ancient structure. Such an event has not transpired sinoe the completion ef the Great Pyramid, which io computed to have occured in 2170 B.C. When that particular star reaches the position mentioned, it is further maintained that the celestial dial will have completed a circle of over 25,000 years, or, in other words, the heavenly bodies wili have resuraed the position they were in at that remote period.