ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR MAY, 1919

Evening Star, Issue 17031, 30 April 1919, Page 8

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR MAY, 1919

[By the Hon. Director, Wanganui Observatory.] —The Sunis in the constellation Aries till the 16th, when he passes into Taurus. His declination is now north, and increases during the month bv 7deg. being 14.5 on the Ist and 21.6 on 'the 31st.' Snnspots have shown a considerable decline during the past month, but several interesting groups have formed, under observation, from regions affected with close "spotting" on the visible disc. —The Mooncomes into the vicinity of the planets, and some of the brighter stars, and thus serves as a convenient pointer to them. She will be near Venus on the 2nd and 3rd, Jupiter on the 4th, Saturn on the 7th and Bth, Uranus on the evening of the 23rd, Mercury on the 28th, Mars on the 29th. She may be seen passing through the constellations visible in our evening skies, as follows ;—ln Gemini on the 3rd, 4th, and sth, and nearest the bright stars Castor and Poliuv on the latter date; Cancer on the 6th ; Leo. on the 7th, Bth, and 9th, and nearest the bright star Regulus on the evening of the Bth, Virgo on the 10th to the loth, and nearest the bright star Spica on the 12th, Libra on the 14th and loth, Scorpio on the 16th, and nearest the bright red star Antares (the Heart of the Scorpion) on that date. She will be in Ophiuchus on the 17th. Sagittarius on the 18th to the 20th; after which she rises late in the evening. —Phases of the Moon in New Zealand Mean Time.—

—Eclipse.— There will be a total eclipse of the Sun on the 30th, invisible in New Zealand. —Mercury—is a morning star during the whole of May. He will be at greatest western elongation from the Suns place on the 6th, and in lunar conjunction on the 28th. —Venus—is now a brilliant object in our early evening skies in the west. She is in lunar conjunction on the morning of the 3rd, and may be seen near our satellite on this and the preceding date. She will be in conjunction with the planet Jupiter on the 26th, at 10b 41min a.m., but will appear close to the big planet at nightfall, when they will make an interesting sight in the western sky. —Mars—is an evening star at the beginning of the month, but is in solar conjunction on the 10th, after which he passes over. the. sky in front of the Sim. and is now invisible. He is in lunar conjunction on the 29th. —Jupiter—is still a prominent object in the northwest during the early evening. He is in lunar conjunction on the evening of the 4th, and will be in conjunction with Venus on the 26th. His satellite phenomena mav be seen to best advantage on the following evenings, when eclipses, transits, or occultations mav be observed in any i'airlv powerful telescope—viz., the sth, 6th. *Bth. 9th, 10th, 12th. 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st. —Saturn — is a prominent object in Leo, now moving towards the east. He is in lunar conjunction on the morning of the Bth, and may be seen on either side of the Moon on this and the preceding evening. His ring svstem is now closing, but still presents a" very attractive view in a good telescope. —Uranus—is a morning star during the month. He will be in lunar conjunction on the 23rd, and in quadrature on the 24th. —Neptune—is an evening star in Cancer. He will be in conjunction with the Moon on the evening of the 6th. —The Constellations — visible in our early evening skies are placed as follow for the middle of the month. The same appearance will obtain an hour later at the beginning and an hour earlier at the end of the month. Portions of Ursa Major and Leo Minor are low on the northern meridian to the west; Canis Venatici and Coma Berenices are in the same position to the east. Higher stands Virgo and its brilliant star Spica, ,ond over this is the Water Snake, Hydra, with the small coitf.tellations Corvus and Crater. Leo and its fina star Regulus is west of tiie meridian over Leo Minor. Bootes and the brilliant Arcturus are towards the north-east, and the Serpens, Ophiuchus, and Libra to the east. South of east is the Scorpion, its big red star Antares, the centre of three lying horizontally, being very conspicuous. Sagittarius follows the Scorpion. The Centaur is well up towards the zenith, and the Southern Cross and Pointers are nearing the zenith. Eridanus and the bright Achernar are now nearing the horizon in/llie south and west, Orion nearly set, and Canis Major, with the brilliant Sirius, .followed by Argo, are all west. of the southern meridian. Hydrus and Toucan are low down in the south, with Indus, Pavo, and Triangulum in the southeast. The Clouds of Magellan are below the Pole and to the west.

Days. Hrs. Min. First quarter ... 7 11 3 a.m Full moon ... ... 15 12 31 p.m Last quarter ... 23 9 34 a.m New moon ... ... 30 12 42 a.m Apogee ... 14 9 42 a.m Ferigeo ... 29 4 54 a.m