Astronomical Phenomena of 1881.
The present year is a remarkable one in an astronomical sense. It is fall of extraordinary astronomical phenomena, the appearance of which has been long anticipated and tha subject of varied predictions. The planetary relations of this year are interesting and important, as they will set at rest many theories concerning the influence of the yarious members of the solar system on one another. The planetary phenomena consist of unusual conjunctions during that period when these heavenly bodies are in perihelion—namely, at that point in their 1 orbits nearest the sun. Some astronomers hold that the planetary phenomena of the present year have not occurred before iv the world's history since the Mosaic creation. Some of the planets hare already passed the point nearest the sun; others have yet to reach it. For instance, the giant planet Jupiter was in perihelion on the 25th of last September. The ringed planet Saturn was in perihelion a month earlier, namely, on the 23rd of last August, The earth was in perihelion on New Year's day. Mars will be in perihelion on the 26fch of May next; Venus, which is at present such a beautiful object in the evening sky, owing to its brilliancy and close to the planets Jupiter and Saturn and the silvery crescent of young moon, will be in perihelion on the 6th of March, and then again on the 16th. of October. The little planet Mercury, which completes his revolution around the Sun every eighty-eight days, will be in perihelion four times during the year, namely, February 21st, May 20th, August 16th and November 12th. Mars is in perihelion on the 26th of May. The, two outside planets, Uranus and Neptune, will not be in perihelion until next year, that of Uranus occurring March 25, 1882, and Neptune, October 23,1882. The presence of the intra-mercurial planet Vulcan, which was about a year or two ago reported discovered, is yet so uncertain that its orbit has not been determined, and if it exists, its period of perihelion cannot be determined. But the most remarkable features of the planetary phenomena are the frequency and multiplicity of conjunctions; that is,- when they are in the same part of the heavens —in the same longitude or right ascension. And what causes some timid people considerable alarm is the fact that the greater number of the planets will at one time this year be iv superior conjunction, that is, on the side of the sun most distant from the earth, and that at a period when they will be in perihelion or nearly so. There is not a month in the year but what two or more of the planets are iv conjunction. But the most noteworthy of these planetary relations will occur in the months of July, August and November. On or about the 17th orlfiih. 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 which will not at that period be in Taurus. Strange phenomena are predicted in some quarters from this unusual relationship, as the attraction of all of the planets excepting Uranus, will be on one side of the solar orb while that of the Earth only will be on the other. On the 11th of August Neptune, Jupiter and Mercury will be in conjunction, and Venus and Mars will also be in the same condition. On the ?th of September there will be another double conjunction, namely, that of Neptune and Jupiter, and Saturn and Mara. But in the early part of November all of the planets will be on one side of the Sun—Neptune, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth, and Mercury will be emerging from tha sign Taurus and entering Geminii. Venus and dranus will be at the same time in 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 Greek Pyramid of Egypt, which, whatever other significance belongs to it, is pretty generally conceded to have been erected for astronomical observation. There are some pyramidal enthusiasts who go much further than this, and attribute an inspirational origin and prophetic meaning to all the lines, measurements and configurations of that remarkable structure. Some notable Egyptologists and astronomers figure in the list of adherents to such a belief. Among the latter is . Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, whose work on " Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid•" is familiar to most readers of astronomy. But one of the most notable astronomical events which the Great Pyramid commemorates and which will this year bo repeated will be the appearance of the star Draconis in a line with the Great Gallery or entrance passage of the ancient structure. Such an event has not trauspired since the completion of the Great Pyramid, which is computed to have occured in 2170 b.c. When that particular star reaches the position mentioned, itis further maintained that the celestial dial will have completed a cycle of over 25,000 years, or, in other words, the heavenly bodies will have resumed the position they were in at that remote period. Accompanying the chronicling of this particular phenotueuou are various visionary predictions iv which Piazzi Smyth and others indulge, such as important physical terrestrial changes, unusual atmospherical phenomena, and new phases in religious beliefs. Possibly the words of the Roman Governor Festus to the Apostle Paul, namely " that much doth make thee mad," may be applicable to them. But this fact is certain, neither the present nor many generations to come will witness as many wonderful astronomical phenomena as are crowded into the present year —San Francisco Bulletin.
Help somebody worse off than yourself and you will find you are better off than you fancied.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS18810329.2.2
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3822, 29 March 1881, Page 1
Word count
Tapeke kupu
997Astronomical Phenomena of 1881. Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3822, 29 March 1881, Page 1
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.