ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR JANUARY, 1917.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 7

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR JANUARY, 1917.

By John Geigg, F.R.A.S

THE SUN. The Sun's path for this month will be "through the constellations of Sagittarius and Capricornus, in 11. A., from 18.46 to 20.56, and in Declination south 23 to 17.19. On the 22nd it will be partially eclipsed, as seen from Europe, North Africa, and Asia. THE MOON. The Moon's phases will be as follows: d. h. m. Full moon 8 7 12 p.m. Last quarter 16 16 12 p.m. New moon 23 7 10 p.m. First quarter 31 0 31 p.m. Apogee 10 7 54 a.m. Perigee 24- 0 6 a.m. THE PLANETS. Mercury will be near the Sun during the month, at greatest elongation east on the 2nd, in Perihelion on the 12th, in inferior conjunction on the 18th, and in conjunction with Venus on the 30th. Venus, R.A. 16.45 to 19.26, Dec. S. 22, will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 21st. Mars, R.A. 19.43 to 21.20, Dec. S. 22.25 to 16.26, will be in conjunction with the Moon on :he 24th. Jupiter, R.A. 1.37, Dec. N. 8.45, will bo in quadrature with the Sun on the 17th, and in conjunction with the Moon on the 29th. Saturn, R.A. 8, Dec. N. 21, will be near the Moon on the 9th. CULMINATIONS. The following bright stare, as seen from Bunedin, will culminate at the hours named on the Ist of the month, and 3min 56sec earlier daily afterwards: h. m. s. Altitude. Achernav 7 0 25 S. 78 9 Alpha Ceti 8 23 30 N. 40 25 Eta Tauri 9 7 58 N. 20 20 . These times are calculated for the meridian of Port Chalmers, and, reduced to New Zealand standard time, llhr 30min fast of Greenwich. For inland places on or about the same latitude one minute should be added for jsvery 12 miles westward. If a compass is used for finding the meridian, allowance must be made for its variation, which is given as 16.48 east of truo north.