ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 13

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR SEPTEMBER.

Bt John Gbicg, F.R.A.S THE SUN. The Sun's path for this month will be through Leo and Virgo, from R.A. 10.40 to 12.45; and in declination, from 8.24 north to 3.3 south, passing the Equinox on the 24th. at 2.31 a.m. THE MOON. The Moon's phases will be as follows: d. h. m. Full moon 1 11 58.5 Last quarter 8 6 35.0 New moon 16 9 57.5 First quarter 24 5 11.4 Full moon (Oct.) ... 1 8 1 a.m. Apogee 15 2 12 a.m. Perigee 30 5 36 a.m. Theso 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 lmin should be added for 6very 12 miles westward.^ If a compass is used for finding the meridian, allowance mu6t be made for its variation, which is given at 16.48 east of true north. THE PLANETS. Mercury, R.A. 12.6.11, Dec. S. 4.33, is too near the Sun to become visible to us, it 3 meridian passage at the beginning of the month being 1.25 p.m. It will be in conjunction with the Sun on the 18th. Venus is also in South Declination, from 4.20 to 18, and its meridian passage will be between 2.4 and 2.20. It will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 20th. Mars is in N. Dec. from 22 to 18, passing through Gemini and Cancer, and will be visible only in early morning. Jupiter is in Taurus, R.A. 4.35 to 4.40, Dec N. 4.21, being nearer the Pleiades and Bull's Head. It will be near the Moon on the Bth.

Saturn, in Cancer, rises two or three hours before the Sun, its declination being approximately 13 north. Uranus is in Oapricornus, R.A. 21.31, S. 15.20, and will be near the Moon on the 28th.