Easter, according to the traditional regulation of the Council of Nice, must be determined according to the following conditions: 1, Easter must be celebrated or a Sunday; 2, this Sunday must follow the fourteenth day of the paschal moon, So that if the fourteenth day of the paschal moon falls on a Sunday, then Easter must be celebrated on the Sunday following; 3, the paschal moon is that of which the fourteenth day falls on or next follows the day of the vernal equinox; 4, the equinox is fixed invariably in the calendar on March 21. This regulation is to be construed according to the tabular full moon as determined from the epart, and not by the true full moon, which, in general, occurs one or two days earlier. EMBER DAYS. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday after: First Sunday in Lent, February 28, March 1 and 2; Pentecost, May 29, 31 and June 1; September 14-September 18, 20 and 21; December 13-December 18, 20 and 21. GREEK CHURCH OR RUSSIAN CALENDAR. A. D. 1912: A. M. 8021. The year 1912 corresponds nearly with the Chinese year 4609, or the 49th year of the 76th cycle of 60 years. JEWISH OR HEBREW CALENDAR. Year 5672-73, A. M. Scotland produced 25,322,280 proof gallons of whiskey in the year 1910-'11. In the Roman (Julian) Calendar the months corresponded exactly with our own, excepting that down to the time of the Emperor Augustus the fifth and sixth months of the year-which, with the Romans, began with March-were called Quintilis and Sextilis; afterward they were named in honor of the Emperors Julius and Augustus. In reckoning the days of each month three fixed points were taken, and any particular day was said to be so many days before the next coming fixed day. These three points were (1) the Kalends, by which name the first of each month was known; (2) the Nones, which fell on the seventh day of the month in March, May, July and October, and on the fifth day in each of the other months; and the Ides, which always fell eight days after the Nones. This Calendar, although reckoned from September 22, 1792, was not introduced until November 22, 1793. It remained in use till December 31, 1805. The Gregorian Calendar was restored January 1, 1806 (Nivôse 10, Year xiv). The months varied in different years. Nivôse commenced December 21 in 1793, December 22 in 1804 and 1805. The following are the dates for the year 1804, the last complete year of the calendar: Vendémiaire (Vintage), Sept. 23-Oct. 22. Germinal (Budding), Mar. 22-Apr. 21. The months were divided into three parts of ten days each, but to make up the 365 days five days were added at the end of September: (Primidi), dedicated to Virtue; (Duodi) to Genius; (Tridi) to Labor; (Quartidi) to Opinion; and the fifth (Quintidi) to Rewards. To Leap Year, called Olympic, a sixth day, September 22 or 23 (Sextidi), "Jour de la Révolution," was added. THE SIGNS AND CONSTELLATIONS OF THE ZODIAC. Until recently we supposed that the present relationship between the signs and constellations of the zodiac was generally understood, as all astronomical text books mention their disagreement and explain the cause. The numerous letters of inquiry concerning differences between this data in this almanac and certain others show the necessity for this note of explanation. Thousands of years ago, the zodiac, that belt of the heavens, about 16° in width, within which move the moon and planets, was formed and divided into twelve parts or seasons called signs, each containing certain star groups called constellations. Each was given a name of an object or animal, which never did bear any relationship to the configuration of the stars in that group or division, but which did, or is supposed to, have reference to certain astronomical or other facts. Thus Libra,, the scales or balance, comes at the autumnal equinox, when there is an equilibrium or balance between the length of day and night the world over. Aquarius, *** the water bearer, and whose sign is the Egyptian sign for running water, comes at the season of greatest rains in Egypt, etc. Since the time when these divisions were made and named, owing to the precession of the equinoxes, resulting from the differing polar and equatorial diameters of the earth, the signs have moved back west nearly a whole division, or constellation, and where ? was the first, now is. Hence though the sun now enters the The number of women employed in manufactures and trades in Germany is, appreximately, 9,400,000; in Austria, 5,600,000; in England, 5,300,000. sign March 20, it is a month later when he enters the constellation P. It must be apparent, therefore, that any supposed influence or relationship which early astrologers attributed to the position of the sun, moon or planets when in certain of these divisions can no longer exist, as the sign now only represents that space or division of the zodiac where the controlling constellation was 2,000 or more years ago, but is not now. Nevertheless, some almanacs still give the signs for the moon's place, which is very misleading to those who attempt to follow her in her course among the stars. Hence, this almanac gives the constellation and discards the ancient picture of the disembowelled man as relics of the age of superstition. The sign is retained for sun's place in the seasons and sun's place each month because of its relationship to the equinoxes and solstices. Dec. 22, 5 45 p.m., 1911. Winter begins and lasts 89 0 44 S. of Equator. Jan. 21, 4 29 a.m., 1912. 2 17 p.m., 1912. Summer begins and lasts 93 14 51 N. of Equator. 1 14 a.m., 1912. 8 2 a.m., 1912. 5 8 a.m., 1912. Autumn begins and lasts 89 18 37 S. of Equator. 1 50 p.m., 1912. Nov. 22. 10 48 a.m., 1912. Dec. 21, D. H. 0 M. 44 18 37 Tropical year-365 6 0 D. H. M. 92 19 48 93 14 51 178 19 21 South of the Equator. Subtract 186 10 SCENESS The sun is 7 15 18 longer north of the Equator than south of it, owing to the slower motion of the earth (sun's apparent motion) when near and at aphelion or furthest from the sun. ECLIPSES OF 1912. There will be four eclipses this year, two of the Sun and two of the Moon, as follows: I. Partial of the Moon April 1, invisible in the United States, visible quite generally in Europe, Africa, part of Asia and South America. This eclipse has nearly run its course, and the series to which it belongs will expire with one more very small eclipse on April 12, 1930, passing off on the Moon's southern limb. II. Central and total of the Sun April 17. The Sun will rise more or less eclipsed throughout most of the Southern, Middle and Eastern States. Invisible west Sun of a line from near Pensacola, a. m. The last preceding eclipse of the series to which this one belongs was April 5, 1894, and the next succeeding one will be on April 27, 1930, when it will be total and visible in the United States. An eclipse of the Sun recurs sixty or seventy times after the first small one on one limb, then the total ones and on to the last small one on the opposite limb, covering a period of over 1,000 years. III. Partial of the Moon September 26. In Eastern United States the Moon will be setting as the eclipse begins, where it will therefore be invisible. Visible as follows: There were on the register of the United Kingdom is 1840 steamships with an aggregate tonnage of 87,930; in 1880, 2,722,470, and in 1909, 10.284,810. See Fig. 1. the figure. E. MOON Section of Earth's Shadow MOON Central time. Mountain time. Pacific time. H.M. 5:03 a. m. 5:45 a. m. 4:45 a. m. 6:26 a. m. 5:26 a. m. IV. Total of the Sun October 10, visible in Southeastern United States as a very small eclipse on the Sun's southern limb. In the Gulf States the Sun will rise with the eclipse on. Throughout most of North and South Carolina the whole of the eclipse will be visible just after the rising of the Sun, but it will be exceedingly small. This eclipse will recur October 21, 1930, when it will be total again. Greatest size of this eclipse in the United States will be only about one digit. Like Eclipse II, it will be on the Sun's southern limb, as shown in WHEN BRIGHTEST, INVISIBLE AND BEST SEEN; PHASES OF: MORNING AND EVENING STARS. MERCURY (3) will be brightest: (1) As an EVENING STAR March 16-24 in, and November 20-27 in m, setting about 1h. 15m. after the sun. On the 20th of November Jupiter will be 2° 47' north of him, and on March 19 the moon will be 1° 47′ south of him. Mercury. (2) As a MORNING STAR January 6-12 in m, September 12-18 in, with the sickle and Regulus 10° above or W. of him, and Dec. 27-31 still in m and with the red star Antares 10°-15° above or west of him and rising about 1h. 15m. before the sun. Watch for him within the limits of the given dates, looking near the sunrise point of the horizon in the morring, when he is a MORNING STAR, and near the sunset point when an EVENING STAR, and the brightest and reddest star will surely be this planet. It will be invisible at all other times. It is worth while to be certain of seeing this planet, as it is the one nearest the sun, and smallest of our planetary family, excepting the group of minute planet-like bodies whose place is between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter and of which only one-Vesta-is ever visible to the unaided eye. VENUS (9), the most beautiful and attractive of all the planets, will not reach her maximum degree of brilliancy possible this year, as may be seen by the chart-"Visibility of the Principal Planets." She will gradually fade in brightness as a Venus. MORNING STAR, in the east, at the beginning of the year, to invisibility about July 1, being then at superior conjunction with the sun and rising with the sun, July 5. This planet shows to us, in the different parts of its orbit, all the phases shown by the noon and with a far greater change in apparent size and degree of brilliancy than any other of the heavenly bodies. These features are shown in the annexed figure, only that the concave margins (always on the side away from the sun) will show, with a small telescope, an ir- B-At greatest elongation west, November 26, 1911, and about July 1, 1913. C-When brightest as a morning star, October 21-25, 1911, and about May 25, 1913. D-Just after inferior conjunction, April 28, 1913. E-Fifteen days after superior conjunction, July 20, 1912. AS SEEN IN THE MORN AS SEEN IN EVE G-When brightest as an evening tar, about March 15, 1913, H-Just before inferior conjunction, or about April 18, 1913. Venus's place at the beginning of the year will be in on the eastern margin of the four-sided figure of the brightest stars of this constellation. See table of "Rising, More than 3,000,000,000 bananas were imported into the United States in 1910. Meridian Passage and Setting of the Planets." She is advancing eastward past the stars, and on January 9 will be 5° north of Antares, the brightest star in m, and 1° 38' north of 4. Hence at this time 9, 4 and Antares will lie in a straight north and south line, in the eastern morning sky and with the moon high up toward the meridian from them. On January 15 the moon will overtake and pass 9, 6° to the north. During the last week of January and first of February she will be passing just north of the Milkmaid's Dipper, in the Milky Way; February 14, 6' north of February 24, 59' north of in 25° south of Job's Coffin; March 16, 3° 30' north of; April 15 occulted by ; April 27, 10' south of; May 15 in 3° south of and 10° north of Menkar, the brightest start in the head of the Whale; May 27 still in P, 1° 7' north of h and 5° south of the Pleiades or 7-stars low in the southeast at dawn; June 12 in 8 10 northeast of Aldebaran and 26' north of and June 14, 4° south of 9. On July 5 at super with O, rising with him and for some Cays before and after that date she will be rendered invisible by the overpowering light of the sun. When next seen she will be east of as an evening star. (See Chart). On July 14 she will be in 10° south of Castor and Pollux and 4° south of August 13, 2° south of 3. August 14, close to Regulus in N, at the end of the handle of the sickle and 6° north of ; September 9 on equator of heavens 20° north of Spica Virginis in my and 30 N. of 7: September 12, very close to and north of : 4° north of Spica September 21-23, and 1° 43′ south of 2; near Alpha Libræ October 7, and 2° 52′ north of October 12, near where she was at the beginning of the year; last of October, 5° north of Antares in m; November 11, still in m; 3° north of and pointed at by the three lower stars of the Milkmaid's Dipper, near the bottom (upper side) of which she will pass Novemher 20-30; 1° 35' south of December 13, when on the boundary line between and and at the close of the year she will be near the boundary between and and about 10° south of the A-shaped figure which marks that constellation and through which the equator of the heavens passes. At the close of the year she will be about as bright as at the beginning. MARS () will not be at his brightest at any time during the year, but will be most favorably situated for visibility at its beginning, when he will be in P close to and southwest of the Pleiades; occulted by the January 1; 30' north of Mars. January 28, when on a line joining the Hyades (Aldebaran) and the Pleiades; 1° 43′ scuth of February 28, and 2° south March 25. Through February and March to April 5 he will be advancing past the stars of 8, and about March 25 be situated on a line joining the two bright stars which mark the tips of the horns of the bull, and surrounded by the brightest stars of the firmament, midway between Capella on the north and Betelguese on the south; Procyon southeast, Orion below (south) and Sirius southeast; 3° south of April 22 in ; 6 May 12, 2° 9' north; 3° 40' south of May 20, below Castor and Pollux; June 5 in south portion of dense cluster of small stars, called Praesepae; 3° south of June 18 in ; 2° south of July 16 with Regulus 5° west of him; close to August 20, in N; 30' south of September 9 and in with November 4, being too close to for good seeing after October 1, when he will be 35 north of Spica Virginis. He will not be well seen again until the end of the year, when he will be in m. JUPITER (2) will be at his brightest the latter part of May and first of June, when he will shine about equally in the evening and morning hours and all night, rising with the setting of the sun. He will be exclusively a morning star at Jupiter. the first of the year, rising about 4 a. m. in m 5° above (north) of Antares; January 9, being 1° 38' south of her, and again on October 7, when he will be 1° 43' north of 9; at west or 90° west of March 4, when he will begin to shine in the evening hours. He will be in with the Sun December 18 and will therefore be practically invisible throughout December. At Western quadrature August 30, when he will cease to shine in the morning hours and will become excluSively an evening star. His conjunctions with the Moon will be as follows: January 15, February 11, March 10, April 6, May 3 and 30, June 26, July 24, August 20, September 16, October 14, November 11 and December 9. In all the foregoing cases the Moon will pass to the south of Jupiter from 5° to 6°. SATURN (h) will be brightest in December and invisible in May. At the beginning of the year he will be 15° west of the Pleiades and Hyades in P, setting about 3 a. m.; at E. February 3, when he will cease to shine in the morning hours Saturn. and become strictly an EVENING STAR; 1° 7' south of 9 May 27, 29' south of June 2 and in with the May 14. His conjunctions with the Moon are as follows: January 27, February 24, March 22 and April 19, in all of which he will be about 4° south of the ; June 13, July 10, August 7, September 3, October 1 and 28, November 24 and December 21, in all of which he will be about 6° south of the. His wonderful ring system may be best seen toward the latter part of the year. URANUS ( or H) will be at 8 to O, rising with the setting of the Sun and brightest July 20-30, when he may be seen by the unaided eye, in the absence of the Uranus. Moon, as a very dim star in the head of the Goat () about 4° south of the brightest stars of the constellation and in line with them. NEPTUNE (V) will be brightest in January in II, just below Castor and Pollux. None of the planets will pass near enough to him about this time to aid in the identiNeptune. fication of this most distant and dimmest of our planets, nor will it be near enough to any well known star to serve this purpose, even with the aid of a telescope of fair power. A spreading oak sixty feet high will contain about six million leaves. |