10 Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, Monday, May 9, 1949
Regardless of Copernicus,
Mercury Is Easily Seen
By J. HUGH FRUETT
Astronomer, Extension Division, Orefon Higher Education System
Many an earnest star-gazer has voiced the plaint sometimes
accredited to the great Copernicus, "I have never seen the planet
Mercury to know it."
It seems somewhat doubtful that this noted 16th-century astron
omer was so deficient observa
tionally as never to have sighted
the charming little "messenger
of the gods."
But there are many today
who are anxious to see him as
he flies on winged sandals
down the twilight skies toward
the "western ocean."
If the heavens are unclouded
early this evening, anyone with
normal vision can easily spot
our elusive planet. Many may
have already done so since it
was visible all this past week.
It will be highest above the
horizon on May 10, when it will
set nearly in the northwest
about two hours after the sun.
Half an hour after sunset it will
be well up above the horizon
half way between the west and
northwest. In our latitudes its
approaches the skyline at a
downward slant toward the
north. These positions are ap
proximately correct for a few
days before and after May 10.
For most of the year Mercury
is lost in the rays of the sun,
but for a few days in succession
three times this year it may be
seen in the twilight sky; and for
the same number, in the dawn.
The present appearance is by
far the most favorable of any in
the evening twilight this year.
Mercury is now approaching
us and is gradually showing
less of its lighted surface. It
was considerably brighter a
week ago, yet still compares
favorably with the bright stars.
Telescopically, it now appears
like a plump crescent moon.
The monly bright star near it
is orange Aldebaran, somewhat
below and to the left, but slight
ly less brilliant. Much higher
and to the right is yellow Capel-
la. On the 10th, Mercury will
be almost between these stars.
With a diameter of only 3100
miles, Mercury is the smallest of
all of the nine regular planets
It is the nearest to. the sun of
all and completes an orbital rev
olution in 88 days, the Mercur
ian year.
The best data on this little
world indicates that it constant
ly keeps one side toward the
sun. Since the temperature on
the sunward side is so intense
as to melt lead and evaporate all
water, the late Sir James Jeans
once remarked, "If there are
any rivers on Mercury, they are
rivers of lead."
In ancient mythology Mercury
was one of the Olympic immor
tals. As messenger for these
deities, he dashed through the
twilight skies, carrying commu
nications from the greater gods
to the dreams of earth's sleeping
children. He is pictured as an
agile, thinly-clad youth, exult
ing in the delight of swift mo
tion through the air.
Milk Sampling
At New Tempo
Sampling of milk throughout
the state will take on a new
tempo right away, according to
the foods and dairies division of
the state department of agriculture.
StJoseph
IS ASPIRIN AT ITS BEST
SPECIAL
Packard 6 and 120
Brake Reline Labor . 1 2.00
Motor Tune-Up Labor 3.00
Chassis Lubrication Labor 1.00
Front Wheels Balance Labor 1.50
Front Wheel Bearings Repack Labor 1.00
STATE MOTORS, INC
340 N. High
PACKARD DEALERS
All milk coming under the de
partment's jurisdiction will be
sampled now not less than four
times each half-year period.
ously the schedule was three
times each hafl-year period.
This means that about 200
samples of mllx per week will
pour into the department labor
atories at Salem for analyses as
to bacteria count. Also all bot
tled milk and cream samples
are checked for butterfat con
tent. Pasteurized milk samples
are analyzed for phosphate con
tent and presence of coliform
organisms. The former test in-
dicates whether or not the milk
or cream has been properly pas
teurized, while the latter test
determines if contamination has
occurred following pasteuriza
tion.
The increase in milk sampling
it possible with the addition of
a second bacterioligist at the
laboratory, a step contemplated
for some time but impossible of
fulfillment until , now due to
shortage of bacteriologists. The
new member of. the staff is Miss
Sally Munn of Tacoma, who
holds a B.S. degree in bacteri
olgoy from Washington State
college and who did a year's ad
vance work in dairy bacteriolo-
r-TpDoors
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Doors that will serve you
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And Garage Doors that
even a woman can open and
shut with ease!
gy and sanitation at Ames (Io
wa) State college. ,
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1225 Cross
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AT PENN
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1949 SUMMER
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Salem, Oregon
1949 SUMMER
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SECOND FLOOR