ECLIPSES IN JUNE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3380, 27 June 1927, Page 8

ECLIPSES IN JUNE.

The month of June will be remarkable for its variety of celestial phenomena (remarks the >“Evening Post”). Unfortunately the chief of these will be one which will not be visible in this part of the world—a total eclipse of the sun. The rarity of the phenomenon in any one spot on the globe may be gauged from the fact that England has not had the pleasure of witnessing a total eclipse of the sun since the year 1724. As there will not be another one until 1999, that of June, the 29th, will be the only one that the present generation of inhabitants of England will ever see unless they journey to places abroad. The totality is of but about half a -minute’s duration, and the eclipse will be visible as a total one only in the North of England. That of 1999 will go to the opposite ext—»me, being visible only round about Land’s End.

As a consolation for missing the total eclipse of the sun, New Zealand, in common with all other countries where the moon will be above the horizon, will on 15th June experience a lengthy total eclipse of the moon. Shortly after 6 p.m. on that date the shadows of the earth will begin to eclipse the full moon. At about 7.45 p.m. the moon will be riding the heavens totally cclipseAand will remain so until an hour and later, when the shadow will begin to move off. After 21st June the comet which rejoices in the name of Pons Winnecke should begin to be visible in the Southern Hemisphere. At that date it will be low down on the northern horizon, but in July and August it should be a striking object in our southern skies, although it will have passed perihelion. This comet is already faintly visible in the Northern Hemisphere. Its return has been eagerly awaited by astronomers, and if it comes up to expectations it should be visible to the naked eye, being at any rate an easy telescopic object. It may be that its passage will be accompanied by a meteoritic display. By the time Pons Winnecke becomes visible to us in New Zealand it will, unfortunately, be retreating into the confines of space, and, therefore, growing fainter and fainter, but the fascinating uncertainty connected with comets and their behaviour always adds interest to their visits.