Additional guidance will be found by noting the following facts about the charts:
The meridian (the north and south line) runs through the middle of Chart No. 1 between 11 and 12 o'clock p.m. on November 1st, between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m. on December 1st, and between 7 and 8 o'clock p.m. on January 1st.
The meridian runs through the middle of Chart No. 2 between 11 and 12 o'clock p.m. on January 1st, between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m. on February 1st, and between 7 and 8 o'clock p.m. on March 1st.
The meridian runs through the middle of Chart No. 3 between 11 and 12 o'clock p.m. on March 1st, between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m. on April 1st, and between 7 and 8 o'clock p.m. on May 1st.
The meridian runs through the middle of Chart No. 4 between 11 and 12 o'clock p.m. on May 1st, between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m. on June 1st, and between 7 and 8 o'clock p.m. on July 1st.
The meridian runs through the middle of Chart No. 5 between 11 and 12 o'clock p.m. on July 1st, between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m. on August 1st, and between 7 and 8 o'clock p.m. on September 1st.
The meridian runs through the middle of Chart No. 6 between 11 and 12 o'clock p.m. on September 1st, between 9 and 10 o'clock p.m. on October 1st, and between 7 and 8 o'clock p.m. on November 1st.
Note well, also, these particulars about the charts: Chart No. 1 includes the first four hours of right ascension, from 0 h. to 4 h. inclusive; Chart No. 2 includes 4 h. to 8 h.; Chart No. 3, 8 h. to 12 h.; Chart No. 4, 12 h. to 16 h.; Chart No. 5, 16 h. to 20 h.; and Chart No. 6, 20 h. to 24 h., which completes the circuit. In the first three charts the line of 0°, or the equator, is found near the bottom, and in the last three near the top. This is a matter of convenience in arrangement, based upon the fact that the ecliptic, which, and not the equator, marks the center of the zodiac, indicates the position of the tracks of the planets among the stars; and the ecliptic, being inclined 23° to the plane of the equator, lies half to the north and half to the south of the latter.
Those who, after all, may not care to consult the ephemeris in order to find the planets, may be able to locate them, simply from a knowledge of their situation among the constellations. Some ordinary almanacs tell in what constellations the principal planets are to be found at various times of the year. Having once found them in this way, it is comparatively easy to keep track of them thereafter through a general knowledge of their movements. Jupiter, for instance, requiring a period of nearly twelve years to make a single journey around the sun, moves about 30° eastward among the stars every year. The zodiacal constellations are roughly about 30° in length, and as Jupiter was in Sagittarius in 1901, he will be in Capricornus in 1902. Saturn, requiring nearly thirty years for a revolution around the sun, moves only between 12° and 13° eastward every year, and, being in conjunction with Jupiter in Sagittarius in 1901, does not get beyond the border of that constellation in 1902.
Jupiter having been in opposition to the sun June 30, 1901, will be similarly placed early in August, 1902, the time from one opposition of Jupiter to the next being 399 days.