THE PLANETS IN SEPTEMBER

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25276, 30 August 1947, Page 7

THE PLANETS IN SEPTEMBER

(By K. W. Roth for “The Press.”) In the last week of September Mercury will reappear in the evening sky, to stay for five weeks. The conditions for observation will be the best of the year, since at the end of the month Mercury will be setting 2J hours after the sun. The planet will pass within 1J degrees north of the first magni-tude-star Spica on September 26. Venusi in conjunction with the sun on September 4, may be visible as even-ing-star first towards the end of this month at sunset near the sun, Jupiter is still the brightest star in the sky, shifting nearer to Scorpio. On September 19. about 10.40 p.m. (for Christchurch, and about 5 minutes later for Greymouth) the moon will occult Jupiter. The observation is facilitated by the fact that Jupiter will disappear behind the dark side of the moon, which is then less than five days old. The moon has no atmosphere, and, therefore, the occultation should be quite sudden. It may be possible that immediately after the disappearance of Jupiter one of his satellites will be visible to the naked eye for a moment or two. In the early morning before dawn, towards the end of the month. Mars will be in line with Castor and Pollux, far above Pollux. Also Saturn will then be well to the left of Regulus.