ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR APRIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3969, 8 April 1930, Page 7

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR APRIL.

THE SUN. The sun’s path during April will be in R.A. from 0.40.34 to 2.28.2, in north declination from 4.22.3 to 14.37.59. and in longitude from 11.1.56 to 39.24.23. A central eclipse of the sun occurs on the 2£th, but it will not be visible in New Zealand. It will be observed as a total eclipse in North America, as an. annular eclipse in the Eastern Pacific and Western Atlantic, and as a partial eclipse in Scotland and Ireland. THE MOON. The phases of the moon will be as under: —

THE PLANETS. Mercury will be in R.A. from 0.42.4 to 3.46.35 and in north declination from 3.22.2 to 22.42.5. It will be in superior conjunction with the sun on the Ist, at its greatest elongation on the 27th, and in conjunction with the moon on the 30th. Venus will be in R.A. from 1.31.9 to 3.50.45, and in north declination from 8.39.49 to 20.30.20. It will be in conjunction with the moon on the 30th. Mars will be in R.A. from 22.55.10 to 0.18.11, and declination from 8.10.48 south to 0.43.6 north. It will be in conjunction with the moon on the 25th.

Jupiter will be in R.A. from 4.41.21 to 5.4.33, and in north declination from 21.50.26 to 22.31.51. It will be in conjunction with the moon on the 4th. Saturn will be in RA. from 18.49.58 to 18.51.7, and in south declination from 22.12.37 to 22.11.21. It will be in conjunction with the moon on the 19th, and will be stationary on the 21st. Uranus will be in conjunction with the moon on the 26th, and Neptune will be in conjunction with the moon on the 9th.

Doubt whether it was desirable for the department’s correspondence school to undertake the tuition of children in hospitals was expressed by the Education Department in a letter to the Taranaki Education Board. Patients had not the facilities for working or the opportunities for receiving assistance that the average child had in its own home. The correspondence school had previously had hospital patients on its roll, but with one or two exceptions the results could not be considered very satisfactory. New Plymouth climbers recently found and captured a young hare on the slopes of Mount Egmont at a height of about 6000 feet. It was taken to the summit and appeared to enjoy the novel experience. Except for the last 1000 feet Egmont is now free of iee and snow. The mountain moss, where the hare was caught, evidently provides food for it. This is the first time a hare has ever been reported as being seen on the mountain. One night recently a Napier resident noticed smoke issuing from the pillar box at the corner of Selwyn road and Napier terrace. The brigade was notified and the fire soon extinguished. The postal authorities states that although a number of letters was damaged, none was destroyed beyond recognition. The police have the matter in hand. ,

First quarter .. 6th 10.55 p.m. Full moon . . 13 th 5.18 pan. Last quarter .. 21st 9.38 a.m. New moon .. 29th 6.38 a.nu Perigee .. .. 9th 10.42 p.m. Apogee .. .. 21st 0.24 a.m.