THE PLANETS IN OCTOBER

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25303, 1 October 1947, Page 8

THE PLANETS IN OCTOBER

[By K. W. ROTH, for “The Press.”] Mercury is the evening star throughout October, being in a most favourable position in the first part of the month, when it will'set more than two hours and a half after the sun. This is only possible in spring, when Mercury is in a more southern part of the ecliptic than the sun. Observation on consecutive evenings will reveal that Mefcury shifts considerably to the left (south) during the month. The young moon, on the evening of October 16, passes Mercury four degrees to the north.

Venus is coming again as the even-ing-star proper. However, it will not be until November that she really catches the eye without being looked for. On October 15 she has an encounter with the fine crescent of the new moon, the latter about one degree north of Venus. On October 28, Venus is passing 3£ degrees north of Mercury, by far the brighter object of .the two.

Jupiter, now Scorpius, is still very evident in the west, having lost, however, considerably in brilliapcy, and about to turn over the role of domineering star to Venus. The moon, which had passed earlier in-the year to the north of Jupiter, and obscured it on September 19, will pass south of the planet at a distance of two moondiameters, on October 17.

In the morning sky, Mars is wandering through Cancer, and very easily noticed, being in a region void of bright fixstars. Saturn is not far from Mars to the east, Mars approaching Saturn, and passing at close distance in November.