THE NIGHT SKY IN MARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 39

THE NIGHT SKY IN MARCH.

The star chart below is specially prepar ed for the Otago Daily Times and Wit ness by Mr J. T. Ward, director of the Wanganui Observatory.

The above chart is designed to show the stars and other celestial bodies as they may be seen in the sky on the 15th of the month at about 8.30 p.m. The observer, being aware that any star rises and comes to the meridian about four minutes earlier on each succeeding evening, will see that for an earlier date than the 15th he must look later, and* for a. later date earlier, by about four minutes for each day, if he desires to see the stars as- shown on the above chart. The centre of chart depicts the point overhead, and the circumference the horizon ; the observer should hold that partdownwards which corresponds by compass point with the direction in which he is observing. By comparing the above chart with that drawn for February, it will be seen that several constellations then visible in our western sky have now passed below the horizon, while others not then visible have now made their appearance in the eastern skies. Turning to the north we find Gemini to the left and Cancer, with Lynx to the right of the meridian.' Canis Minor with the bright star Proeyon is almost due north and above Gemini. In the northeast is Leo, with Regulus, the brightest star in this constellation, and forming the end of the handle of the "sickle." Virgo is due east with the bright star Spica', and 'over this constellation may be seen Crater, the Cup, and Corvus, the Crow, with the long trailing shape of Hydra, the Water Snake, above them. In the south-east is the Centaur and Lupus, with the Cross over the two bright stars, Alpha

and Beta, of the Centaur. Ara and the Triangle is farther to the south with Pavo rijht over the south point, low down, liydrus and the Toucan, with pare of Grus (the Southern Crane), are on the west of the southern .meridian, with Phoenix and Eridanus and the brilliant Achemar in. the south-west. Argo is over the southern pole and near the zenith, the fine star Ganopus showing now to advantage in the clearei air overhead. Getus is low down in the west. Taurus is approaching the' horizon in the north-west, the Pleiades being about to set at this time. Over Taurus is the fine constellation Orion, and above this again Lepus and Columba. The brilliant Sirius is above these in Canis Major. All, with few exceptions, of the brilliant stars in the southern hemisphere are< now in one great zone from Aide-bar an, in Taurus, in the north-west, to Alpha. Centauri in the .south-east. Mars is in Taurus and moving easterly through the stars of this constellation. Jupiter is in Virgo, rising in the eastern sty. To .the possessors of medium astronomical telescopes Jupiter affords an inexhaustive object of interesting detail ; even in a small hand telescope his four l.irger moons may be seen quite distinctly. The Moon is a crescent at this time, to the west of the -Pleiades.. Haßey's Comet has now set. It is passing behind the sun, and will not be again visible until it emerges as a morn ing object at the end of April, when it will be visible in the eastern sky before sunrise. ~