ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11894, 1 January 1917, Page 4

ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA.

SEVEN ECLIPSES THIS YEAR. MOON TWIGE OBSCURED. VISIBLE IN NEW EALAND. Astronomically considered the year 1917 is decidedly more interesting than either 1916 or 1918, being marked by seven eclipses, the maximum number that can occur in any one yean". In every year not, less than two, or more than seven eclipses occur. This year two will be total eclipses of tho moon visible in New Zealand, one on the evening of January 8, and the other on tho evening ot December 2'i. On January 23, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in Russia and Siberia, while another on June 19 will bo confined almost entirely to regions within the Arctic Circle. On tho morning of July i> a total lunar sclipse will occur, but will be invisible in iS T ew Zealand, because it will not commence till the moon has set. Again, on July 19, an observer suitably situated in Antarctica would see a Final] portion of Uio sun eclipsed, but on December 14 be would bo more favoured, and would witness an annular eclipse. Curiously enough ono of the best localities from which to view this latter eclipso would be the South Polo itself. Finally, on Sunday, March 4, a- most striking occultation of Saturn by the moon may bo witnessed. The distance of tho earth from the sun varies, the maximum variation being about three million miles, or just over 3 per cent of the mean distance. Tho earth will be nearest, or in perihelion, on January 3, and furthest away, or in aphelion, on July 4. This is because tho path of the earth around the sun in an ellipse, not a true circle. It must not, however, be imagined that tho excessive heat in January is in any way connected with our nearness to the sun.

Turning to the systematic survey of the major planets it will be found that Venus will appear as an evening star in the spring, and continue to increase in brightness till January 5, 1918. Mars will not be favourably situated for observation next year, being for the most part too close to the sun, although in winter it will appear as a morning star, and by the end of the year may ho seen before midnight. Jupiter, now an evening star, will continue to be visible as such until about Easter. In June it will re-appear in the morning sky, while after August it will rise before midnigh?, and will be seen to advantage in tho last three months of the year. Saturn, in Gemini, near Castor and Pollux, is likewise an evening star at present, continuing as such till June, and re-appearing as a morning star in Septern&er. In 1918 there will be two eclipses of the sun, and a partial eclipse of tho moon. Of these the lunar eclipse, on June 24, will be the only one visible in New Zealand.