Astronomical Notes.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 5401, 13 April 1909, Page 4

Astronomical Notes.

April. (By tho Rev Dr Kennedy). The Sun—The sun is now north of the celestial equator, and his northern declination will inorease from 4 degrees 24 minutes on the Ist to 14 degrees 89 minutes on the 80th. His noon altitude will thus deorease by 10 degrees 15 minutes, and the length of the day will decrease from 11 hours 41 minutes on the Ist to 10 hours 85 minutes on tho 80th. Tho Moon.—Tho moon will pass near Jupiter on the 2nd and again on the 29th, and near Mars on the 14th. She will bo near Regulus in tho Lion on tho 2nd, near Bpica in the Virgin on tho 6th, and Antaxos in tho Bcorpion on the 10th. Phases of tho moon ; Full moon, April 6th ; last quarter, 14th ; now moon, 20th ; first quarter, 27th.

Tho Planets.—Jupiter is still in tho constellation of the Lion, to tho east of Kogulus. 110 will ho duo north at 9 p.m. about tho middle of the month. Mars rises a little boforo midnight, in tbo constellation of Sogitarius. Venus and Saturn aro too near the sun for observation.

The Stars and Constellations.—Sixteen stars of the first magnitude can be seen between 8 and 9 p.m. during tho month. Looking north-west we see the bright red star Aldubaran in the Bull, low down near the horizon, higher up Bigel and Betelgeux in Orion, and still higher up Sirius in tho Great Bog. Below Sirius and a little to tho right are Procyon in the Ijittle Bog, and Castor and Pollux in tho Twins. Almost duo north about 9 p.m. in the beginning of the month is Regulus in the Lion, in the handle of tbo sickle formed by five other stars below it arranged in a curved line. In the east is Bpica in tho Virgin, and north-east is tho reddish star Arcturus in Bootes. Towards tho south-east is another red star, Antares, in the Scorpion, low down. High up in the southeast aro tho two Pointers and Alpha Crucis. Towards tho south-west are Canopus, in Argo, high up, and Arohornar in tho river Eridanus, low down near tho horizon.

Comet.—Morehouse is now entering tho constellation Argo, almost due south, but is too faint to be seon with the naked eye. It can be seen with a small telescope on a bright moonless night. On tho 15th it will ho near lota Argus, tho lowest of four stars in Argo forming a cross lying on its side, and not far from the Milky Way.