ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR APRIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1481, 3 April 1880, Page 15

ASTRONOMIC AL NOTES FOR APRIL.

The Sun entered the constellation of Aries on the SOthull. During the early part of the past month solar spot;) have been numerous, notably so on the 7th, 9th, ?nd on the 14th. I counted no iess than nine groin <; one of whioh was surrounded with oxcesJvely 1 -i, nt faculoe ridgep, ntronyly vemimiing me of tho bright atrerks near Proelus in the moon. These spots have ncv disappeared, and 1 2;ave not seen any since the 19th. The Moon.— Last quarter on the 2nd, 5,31 p.m.; new moon on the 10th, at 2.28 a.m.; first quarter on the 18th, 6.34 a.m.; full moon on the 25th, 10.14 a.m.; in apogee on the 12th, purigee on the 24i,h Mercury in Pisoes.— An evening star until the 10th, when it becomes a morning: star in conjunction with the moon on the Bth, and attains its greatest western elongation on the 25th, when it will be seen shortly before sunrise ; not well placed for observation. Venus in Pisces.— A morning star in Aphelion on the 3rd, and in conjunction with the moon on the 7th ; visible in the efusf. before sunrise. Mars in Gemini.— An evening star, nob well placed for observation, being low down to tho north ; is very gibbous when examined with a telescope. During the past apposition its declination was too much north for good observations in southern latitudes. Jupiter in Pisces.— An evening star until the 15th, when it becomes an evening star in conjunction with the moon on the Bth ; is not well placed, owing to its proximity to the sun. Saturn in Pisces.— An evening star during the early part of the month, and a morning one at the end of the month ; not well placed for observation, being lost in the solar rays. Uranus in Leo.— An evening star, well placed for observation. An object worthy oi inspection by those who possess optical means, being near Alpha Leonis (Regulus), a little to the south and cast. Coloured Stars.— Among the many interesting objects for inspection by anyone taking an interest in astronomy, coloured stars may be classed as one that ha? not received the attention which it undoubtedly dpjerves. If a careful examination, with a good telescope, is made near the second brightest star in the Southern Gross (Beta Crucis), a magnificent gioup of coloured stars will be seen. This is tho celebrated jewel casket of Hcrschel ; it contains more than 100 stars, from the seventh magnitude downwards, one very beautiful rubysfr.rb ing conspicuous. Green, blue, amber, and in fact all thi- prismatic colours, are to be seen in this cluster. The brightest star in the Southern Cross consists ot one double of a beautiful blue, wid the third is aea green. Alpha Centauri, the brightest of the two pointers to the Cross, is a magnificent double star of a beautiful orange colour. Acaruar,