THE SUN.
During this month the sun makes rapid strides northward, moving from declination 22° 57′ south on the 1st to declination 17° 11′ south on the 31st. This occasions also quite an increase in the length of the day, from sunrise to sunset on the 1st being 9h. 23m. 36s., and on the 30th, 10h. 4m. 56s. On the 1st, 16th and 30th, 7:22, 7:21 and 7:11 a. m. are the respective hours of rising, and 4:46, 4:59 and 5:16 p. m. the hours of setting. On the 16th, day breaks at 5:40 a. m., and twilight ends at 6:40 p. m., giving just thirteen hours between “early dawn and dewy eve.” The sun is slower than the clock, on the 1st, being on the meridian at three minutes and thirty-eight seconds past twelve, and on the 31st reaching the meridian thirteen minutes and forty-seven seconds after the clock indicates noon.
THE MOON
Will present its ordinary four changes at the following times: last quarter on the 7th, at 10:28 p. m.; new moon, 16th, 3:28 a. m.; first quarter, 23d, 8:18 p. m.; full, 30th, 11:11 a. m. It will be in apogee, or farthest from the earth, on the 13th, at 3:42 a. m., and in perigee, or nearest to the earth, on the 28th, at 8:42 p. m. It will reach its greatest elevation, amounting to 66° 55′, on the 28th, and the least elevation, 30°, on the 14th.
MERCURY,
Well named from its mercurial habits, having the smallest orbit, and being the most rapid traveler, presents in a given time more phases than any other of the planets. Thus we find that on the 3d, at 5:00 p. m., it is in inferior conjunction with the sun, that is, between the earth and the sun; on the 14th, at 8:42 a. m., 2° 1′ south of the moon; on the 14th, at 3:00 p. m., stationary, that is, it is moving in a direct line (or nearly so) away from the earth, and thus seems to stand still; on the 24th, at 5:00 a. m., is 1° 6′ north of Venus, on which occasion the latter will serve as a good “pointer,” enabling one readily to find this peculiar planet. On the 26th, it is at its greatest distance (24° 53′) west of the sun. Its motion for the first fourteen days is 12° 45′ retrograde; and for the remainder of the month, 29° 51′ 40″ direct. On the 1st it rises at 7:39 a. m., and sets 5:11 p. m.; and on the 16th, rises at 5:52 a. m., sets at 3:22 p. m.; and on the 30th rises at 5:52 a. m., and sets at 3:10 p. m.; changing from evening star during the first, to morning star in the latter part of the month.
VENUS
Continues morning star, and will remain so till the 4th of May. On the 1st, rises at 5:11 a. m., sets 2:39 p. m.; on the 16th, rises at 5:40 a. m., sets 2:52 p. m.; on the 30th, rises at 5:59 a. m., sets 3:17 p. m. Motion 41° 32′ 59″ direct. Diameter diminishes from 12.4″ to 11.2″. On the 13th, at 3:34 p. m., 4° 8′ south of the moon. On the 24th, at 5:00 a. m., 1° 6′ south of Mercury.
MARS.
This planet presents nothing peculiar this month. It will be an evening star, though appearing but a short time after sunset each day. On the 1st it rises at 8:10 a. m., and sets at 5:20 p. m.; on the 16th rises at 7:51 a. m., sets at 5:21 p. m.; on the 30th rises at 7:29 a. m., sets at 5:21 p. m. It has a direct motion of 25° 16′ 2″, and its diameter remains about the same during the month, namely: 4.2″. On the 16th, at 6:48 p. m., is 5° 42′ south of the moon.