BEAUTIES OF THE AUGUST EVENING SKY

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 August 1946, Page 4

BEAUTIES OF THE AUGUST EVENING SKY

MAGNIFICENT RANGE NOW (By Sky Pilot). Many fine views of the August sky have been had by Wanganui people who have visited the observatory on recent nights. Last Saturday evening despite the heavy wind, the conditions for observation were excellent, as the air was very clear. Some parts of the sky were seen to better advantage than for some some. Some of the “sights” worth seeing in the evening sky are the following:— Venus, beautiful quarter, superb brilliance, challenging for every moment. Splendid to the naked eye, grand to behold through the telescope.

Jupiter, a magnificent sight last Saturday evening, the Galilean Moons perfectly placed and the bands of the planet standing out most clearly. The two most brilliant of all the planets are drawing closer together.

Coloured stars abound in Corvus, Crux, Argo beautiful reds, greens, blues, whites, with marvellous contrasts. Double stars worth seeing are Alpha, Centauri, a splendid Binary, Alpha Crucis, a triple star, and Antares with its emerald green companion.

Clusters are Omega Centauri, the largest in the whole universe, Tuscahae 47 the most compact and beautiful, and the Jewel Box and its environment. See it for pattern, brilliance, colours and the superb environment about, this, and also Eta Argus and the keyhole Nebula. Magnificent clusters abound around here. The Southern Cross is beginning to get low in the sky, and Omega Centauri will soon not be seen, nor the glories about the Southern Cross. The planets will be setting and lost to sight for some time. A night at the observatory to see these will be well worthwhile,