ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR MARCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 7

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR MARCH.

By John Ghigg, F.RA.S. THE SUN. The Sun's path for this month will be through the constellations of Aouarius tnd Pieces, in R.A,. from 22.46 to 0~38, and in , declination S. 7.47 to N. 4-. \ THE MOON. 1 Tho Moon's phases will be as follows:—* I d. h. m. I Last quarter 6 0 14- p.m. , New moon ... 13 7 22 a.m. ( First quarter ... ... ... 20 1 0 a.m. Full moon . ... 28 3 3 a.m. Perigee 12 20 0 Apogee 26 3 12 The times are calculated for tho meridian of Port Chalmers, and, reduced to New Zealand standard time, llhr 30min fast of Greenwich. - , i For inland places on or about tho sama latitude Imin should be added for every 12 miles westward. j If a compass is used for finding the merk I dian, allowance must be made for its varia- j tion, which is given at 16.48 east of true ' north. THE PLANETS. Mercury will be tco near tho Sun for observation. Venus, R.A. 20.52 to 21.50, in Aquarius; declination S. 9.51 to 10.24. \ Mars, R.A. 12.2 to 11.21, in Virgo; do- ' clination N. 4 to- 7.55. Jupiter, R.A. 45.43 to 4.23, in Taurus ( declination N. 21. Saturn, R.A. 8.46, in Cancer; declination N. 19. PHENOMENA. 10th, Venus near Moon; Uranus near Moon. „ ' 13th, Mercury passes Sun. 15th, Mars in opposition to Sun. 16th, Venus greatest brilliancy. 17th, Jupiter very near Moon. 21st, day arid night equal in length. 22nd, Saturn near Moon. 26th, Mars,near Moon.