THE OCCULTATION OF MARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7660, 10 June 1886, Page 5

THE OCCULTATION OF MARS.

Rain ab intervals during the evening. At times the moon and planet were well observed, the most noticeable feature being the great contrast in the colour of the light cast by the two bodies as they approached each other, a feature all the more distinct for the dark limb of the moon being next the planet. At my observing station the planet was not occulted, but from a computation for this station made this afternoou for the least distance of centres, it became known that at their nearest approach at 10h. 16m., the moon would be 13 seconds of arc north of the planet; while at a station two or three miles to the north of my station an occultation would occur. The circumstances of this occultation were such that a small distance in geographical position would make a great difference in the apparent distance of the two bodies ; hence, while an occupation would be observed in one place, at another a mile distant only a contact of limbs would take place. Auckland was just on the limiting parallel of latitude where this occultation could occur, and my station was just outside that parallel. At 10h. 4m. the planet became invisible to the naked eye, and was then situated juat off the western horn of the moon's right limb. At lOh. 4m. a bank of clouds prevented further observation until after the computed times. This occultation is of no scientific value. June 9. S, J. Lambbri, F.R.A.S. ,