ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR NOVEMBER

Evening Star, Issue 14510, 31 October 1910, Page 1

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR NOVEMBER

[Fito.n tjjk Hon. Diklctoi:, Wanuaxvi OnsF.IIVATORV.J —'J he Sunis in (ho constellation Libra (ill the 23rd, when he outers Scorpio, from which hi' will pass into Opbitiohus at the end of the month. His southern declination is increasing rapidly at this time, passing n-om 14deg to 21deg during the month, while his altitude, when on the meridian, increases liy a corresponding amount dining tic same period. Sun spots have lieen well in evidence dining the pa.it month, and at time of writing, during these last few days of October, the solar disc, when in-t obscured, as it is so often at this season of the year, lias presented a most interesting aspect. There have been three welldefined areas of considerable si/e, showing great activity, while tlie faoulous regions have been exceptionally large, as was Urease hist October and .November. —Solar Eclipse.— 'There will be a partial edipse of the Sun on the 2nd. which will, however, be invisible in New Zealand. The central line will pass over Eastern Siberia and down into the Northern Paeilic. skirting the extreme western boundary of Alaska en route. -The .Moonwill be near Uranus on the evening of tiie Bth, Saturn on the 16lh. Jupiter on the 29th, and .Mars on the 50th. Her path through the constellations visible, in t'r.r evening skies at about eight o'clock is as follows : —On the 4th. as a crescent, in the west, in the constellation Scorpio; Sagittarius from the 6th to the Bth; CapriI'ornus on the 9th ami 10th : Aquarius on the 11th and 12th; Pisces <m the 15th and 14th : Alies on the loth and 16th ; Taurus ■on (he 17lh. 18th. and 19th; after which she rises later in (he evening. -The Phases of the Moon—in New Zealand mean time: Da vs. i lotus. Min. New Moon 2' 15 26 a.m. Tirst quarter ... 10 4 59 p.m. Full .Moon ... 17 11 55 a.m. Last quarter ... 25 o 4ou.iu. Lunar Lclipse.— There will be a total eclipse of the Moon on the 17th. which will, however, be invisible in New Zealand, the .Moon passing through the, hearth's shadow-cone during the time this hemisphere is turned toward:: the Suu. —Mercuryis a morning star during the month. He wili be in conjunction with the plaint. Venus on the srd. in his descending ii"de on the 12th, and in superior conjunction on the following day. and the 22nd will find .him in aphelion. Altogether the ".Messenger < I the Ouds" is a shy obje, t ilitrini: .November. —Venus—is a morning star during the month. ;.n i too near the" place of the Sun for observation at this time. She will be in conjiiia lion with Mercury on the 3rd. and will pass into superior conjunction on thc2llii, after which she will emerge, as an evening •star. -Mits—is still 100 in ir the solar rays for observation. He will he in conjunction with .lujiitc on the sth, on which occasion the two planets will be separated h\ about the diameter of the Moon, in angular distance, as viewed from (he Land's centre, but as the two bodies are su dose to the solar rays at this time the pheiT'im-iwii will b" invisible. —Jupiter.— This planet lias pa.v-d into I hi' nys of the Sun Irom "in evening .-kie.-, ami «!'l shortly emerge as a morning star. At ]. -- sent lie is too close to our luminary to be er-eii, but may lie caught just.liefoie stiiniv at the end of tile month. He will be in conjunction with the Moon on th" 2'jth. —S.at urn—i» now the only one ol the bright, r plane:., visible in our evening t-kies. lie may ■■- .seen lising ill the early oveiiiiij. in lac north-east between the IK" triangles in Aries and (.'ctns. and is of a distinctly y :■ lowisll color. In a tcJ:MOpe of i.-iii sl/.e :. • i.s. pe.rhap.-.. the most beautiful c-pciUnie the visible universe. 'I ho macjiv,- tea:.; ball, over seventy tlmufcand -mile- U cil.i liK-tel', of many delicate hue.--, clieticied by the greit rill'ji-. <il .-inlii'g o'.'e, one iiiiuoo ! and lilty thousand mil.* ol -pace, go lo ;: ■ making lip of all object ' f - m Jlllar in i t:_. and lasting intcie-l. —Uianus - is all ev nine; star in Sagit;,;i it:. . t.'ov v. placed lor tele.-c.opic [,. inimy on any 1;..■ evening. Hi' "''.'ill l.e in ouijuie.lion v, :;.i tile Mooil oil tic cve.iing of tile. 6t!l -- Neptune—is an evening -tar in Oerniw. rising Lit- m that loli.-tellntion. lie will be oil the luiiu; ui-.'riiii :ii on tlm 21st. —.Meteor.-, - November ii- ihe mouth ol nieuxw; in the hi.-ioiy of many hc.iutinti -prctacier- ale recorded lor (hi* month, ami .■ilthoUL'h the most "striking '' of tiioe—lieLeonids—have pam-d soinewiiaj. out- of one track, many stray ones may be, seen fio.o thifi radiant. 'I he Andromeda ladiuut, mv. ! furnish many bright objc< t.s dining ih month if a careful watch is kept on th.r COllSlclhlliel!. —The Constellations—for the middle of the. month at aben' ; p.m. aie a,-, follow : In the nor; ii lie:- Io■• i Square of Pegasus i.- near the ni'indiai:. wi. n jiait of Ainlj'iiliieiia following ii'.m iii.- < ■.-.. and lower. Over these are Aqiiaiin. o i (.letus, Triangulum and Aims. \\\'.':\ : ,■■ loag-Ll.iiJing I'oim of Pis...--; to ll,. ; j.orincad ; Tallin.-, with lie l'Lyeics a.el Hyades haver down in Ihe noriii-. a.st, the blight Aldcbaiaii being i ori.-plcuocis amongst tile latter. Orion may be ;.c-.n rising in the east, preceded by Lcput>, and over tins,- Kiidanu-. cxtondiiig to tie zcnilh. Towatd- the. south of en.-t t'hegr'-;,-Dog Star iStiiiis) nine more- ],i'-ei,i.- uis brilliant iayt>. anothei reinindei of hot day a]jpioaciiiiig. with much dayiigh:. Aigo bus low in the .south-ea.-1,. but the bnliiin; Oalmpus i.s How. once mole, in a. lailij. collitpicliOUr; poniliou. Tee tloso I- Jiea'lv clue .■.Hllll. with the |io:uter- of the (V;; laur to the Wist, ali<l the Triaiigh- ov. i tlio.-e again. Scoijiio i.- gelling lo.* in liowest, followed by Sagittarius and L'.ipi.-oi-lius. Acpliia. with the bright Alta.ir. i moie to the north of west. —The Zodiacal Light.— Very bright nianifeita.ti'ins of this inteiestihg phenomenon have been seen riuriv-.r the past month, but the oii-crver will lino it passing earlier now. and tdionld look o.i tliase favorable oec:asions a.s as the strong h.v faded in the wo-.t. October' 31.