ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR MAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3347, 8 May 1918, Page 7

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR MAY.

Br John- Grtgg, F.R.A.S. HIE SUN. The Sun's path for this month will be through Aries and Taurus, in H.A., from 2.30 to 4.30, and in Declination 14.55 to 21.5* north. THE MOON. Tho Moon's phases will be as follows: d- h. m. Last quarter 4 9 56 a.m. New moon 10 12 31 a.m. First quarter 18 7 44 a.m. Full moon 26 10 2 a.m. • Perigee 9 3 30 a.m. Apogeo 20 14 0 p.m. The times are calculated for tho 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 lrnin should be added for every 12 miles westward. If a compass is used for finding the meridian, allowance must be made for its variation, which is given at 16.48 east of true north. THE PLANETS. Mercury.—R.A. 2.4 to 2.56, Dec. N. 12 to 14, will pass the meridan at mid-day, and therefore bo invisible to us at that time. Venus.—R.A. 23.40, Dec. S. 2.56, will pass our meridian about 9 a.m., and therefore should bo a brilliant object in the early morning before sunrise. Mars.—R.A. 11.4, Dec. N. 8.8 in Leo all the evenings of the month, from 8 to 5 degrees north declination. Jupiter.—R.A. 4.50 to 5.18 in Taurus, will bo overhead during the day, and therefore invisible at night. Saturn—R.A. 8.42.51 to 8.50 is in Cancer, and its meridian passage will occur early in the evening. Uranus. —R.A. 22, declination S. 13.3, may be looked for near our meridian about 6 a.m.

Neptune. R.A. 8.27, Dec. N. 19, will be near our meridian about 5 or 6 o'clock.