THE NIGHT SKY IN JANUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 67

THE NIGHT SKY IN JANUARY.

The above chart is specially prepared for tlie Otago Daily limes and Witness by Mr J. T. Ward / Director of the Wanganui Observatory.

I The stars and other celestial bodies are shown on the above- chart as they may be seen on the 15th of the month at about 8.30 p.ra. The observer being aware that any star rises and comes to the meridian about four minutes earlier ■each succeeding evening will Bee that for an earlier date than the- 16th he must look later in the evening, while for a later date earlier hi the- evening, by about four minutes for eadi day, if he wishes to have the same appearance of the stars on tli© heavens presented to him. I If the chart is required to show the (•southern aspect it must be held with the ! S downwards, and the same for any •other point of the compass, the point at the centre being regarded as the position overhead. By comparing the above chart with that for December it will be seen that several constellations then visible in our western sky have now disappeared, while other* not then visible have now made their appearance in the -eastern sky. Turning to the north we see Perseus and Auriga low down on either side of the meridian, with Taurus and the Hyades and Pleiades above them, and part of Eridanus stretching up to the zenith and beyond it. In the north-east is Gemini, the Twins containing the -fine stars Castor and Pollux and Orion over this again. The Hydra has now -emerged and stretches right along the eastern horizon from the j north-east to the south-east points. .Cam's ! Major, containing the brilliant Sirius, is high up over the .east, with Argo more

to the south at about the same elevation. The Cross and the ‘“Pointers” Alpha and Beta Centaur! have now drawn away to the ea-st of south, and the Triangle is nearly due south. The- Magellanic Clouds are now moving over their highest points above the pole, with Hydrr.s and the Toucan. Gras and the- Southern Fishes, Piscis Australis, are over the south-west, and Capricornus and Aquarius just setting over the north-west — Pegasus and Andromeda, with Pisces, Aries and C-etus over these constellations. The planets Mars and Saturn may he seen in the north-western sky, Mars having moved considerably east of Saturn. Venus is now nearing the horizon, and may be seen over the west, where also is Mercury and the Moon. Halley’s Comet now lies near Mars or at a point between the stars in the constellations Aries and Pisces. It may be seen, in a telescope of from. 4to 5 inches diameter. Fastening a 3-inch refractor to the large telescope of the observatory inches in diameter) and bringing it into collimation, it was directed exactly on to the comet’s position, the large telescope serving meanwhile as finder, but without result. No trace of the comet could be seen in the 3-inch. This was at the beginning of the month. A« seen in the Si-inch, the coma might easily be passed over if the sky were the least bit hazy.- or the observer’s eye fresh from using the observatory lamp.