ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR APRIL

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12429, 31 March 1908, Page 6

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR APRIL

The SUN is in the constellation Pisces till the 18th, when he enters Aries. His declination north, increases during the month by nearly 10 degrees, and his altitude at noon decreases by a like amount during the same period. Sun spots have shown a slight increase during the past month, several areas of fair size being visible on the 16th and • 17th.

The MOON, in her monthly circuit of the heavens, comes ratio, the vicinity of the planets and some; ''of the brighter stars, and serves as a convenient pointer to them. She will be near Venus on the evenings of the 4th and Mh ; Mars on the same date, the two planets being near conjunction at the time; Neptune on the morning of the Bth ; Jupiter on the 10th ; Uranua on the early morning of the 23rd; Saturn on the 38th; and Mercury on the 30th, in the morning. She will be passing through the following constellations during the earlyii evening on the 'given dates; — New on*<i^er /lst day of the month, and visible as a crescent in the constellation Taurus on' the 4th and the sth and 6th; Gemini on-, the 7th and Bth, and to the west of the bright stars Castor and Pollux on the latter date ; Cancer on the 9th and 10th; Leo on the 11th, 12th, and 13th, and noar' the bright star Regulus on the 12th, to the north ; Virgo on the I4tn, 15th, 16th, and 17th; near the bright ,star Spica on the evening of the 16th; and Libra : on the 18tli and 19th, after which she ' rises late in the evening. PHASES OF THE MOON in New Zealand mean time: — New moon, 1 day 4 hrs ,32 mm p.m. ; first quarter, 9 days 4, hrs Imm a.m. ; full moon, 17 days 4 hrs 25 mm a.m.; last quarter, 24 days 6 hrs 37 mm a.m.

MERCURY is a morning star at the beginning of the month,,, in the constellation Aquarius, with a forward movement. He will be in conjunction with the planet Saturn on the morning df the loth, at greatest heliocentric latitude south on. the 19th, and iir conjunction with the moon on the last day of the month. VENUS is an evening Star in the constellation Taurus, moving' easterly amongst the stars. She is a brilliant object in 'our western skies, and claims attention even before the light of day:' has given place to darkness. The Observer should look for this bright object directly after sunset, also for Jupiter, to the east of the meridian, both objects being easily visible. They will be seen to approach each other in the heavens, Venus appearing to move towards the east to meet Jupiter, but the mighty Jove will have to perform the greater part of the journey, for after advancing towards this planet till the 27th of the month she will then retrace her motion amongst the stars. She will be in conjunction with "-the moon, on the even-, ing of the sth, with on, the same date, just two hours at greatest heliocentric latitude iMHrth,^ on the 24th, shortly after mi4nigfe®*fe^he preceding date, and at greatest elongation' east of the sun on the 27th, viz., 45,5deg, when the planet presents an interesting phase as seen in the telescope.

MAES is an evening „sj;ar, but too near the sun for useful dDßert'ations to be made. He will be in conjunction with the moon on the early morning of the sth, and in conjunction with Venus on the same date.

JUPITER.— This fine planet is now the most interesting ■ body;; in our evening skies, and will' well replay a visit to the telescope on any- favourable evening. He may be seen east of the meridian at sunset, jd the" constellation Cancer, moving forward amongst the stars. He will be in conjunction with the moon on the evening of the 10th, and w?ll be. seen to the east and wee* of 'that *body ori that and the preceding evenings. Sharp-sighted observers may find both this planet and Venus now in full sunlight by locating their positions after sunset, and making an allowance for the difference -of a few hours earlier, when th'^y make their search for the planets' towards the east. Interesting views of the eclipses, occupations, and transits of his satellites across his disc may be^looked fot on the following dates: — 3rd, sth, 7th, Bth, 9th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 23rd, 28th. and 30th.

•SATURN is./a morning star in the constellation Pisces, nioying forward amongst the stars. He is too nartr the sun to permit of useful obßervatiiwiß being made at present. He will be in^ conjunction with the planet Mercury oif" the morning of the 15th, and in conjunction- with tho moon on the morning of the 28th.

URANUS is an evening star in the constellation. Sagittarius, moving forward amongst the Blars.^He'~wflt be in quadra^ titfe,6r'9odef!r.".from the sun's place ontlw 7th stationary amongst the stars on the

21st, in conjunction with the moon on the 23rd, when i inly the diameter of the moon will separate the two bodies at 2hrs. 12min. morning. NEPTUNE is an evening star in the constellation Gemini, moving forward amongst Ihe sturs. He will be in conjunction with the moon on Lhe early evening of the Bth. METEORS.— Some of these interesting bodies may be &oen proceeding from the position of the star Beta, in Libra, moving much slower than thoso from Leo and Gemini,

The CONSTELLATIONS for the middle of the month at about 8 p.m. are as follow : — North : L-eo, containing the fine star Regulus the upper star in "the "sickle"; over this may be seen Hydra the watersnake, a long trailing constellation, the only conspicuous star being Alphard ("the lolilaTy one") which f6rms fctie heart and :an be identified' by its reddish hue. Bast of these is Virgo, the brightest star of i which, Spica, being now woll above the hrrizon, and over this m"y be seen Corvus and Crater, two sma.ll bitt very ancient constellations. In the north-east Bootes — ;he Herdsman — may be seen just rising; to the south of this maybe seen Libra^ — the Balance — which precedes the Scorpion, rising south of east the fin© red star Antares, being- very conspicuous when near the horizon. Over the Scorpion is- the Cen- ; taur and the Cross, now standing high in 'the south-eastern sky followed by the Southern Triangle and Ara. On the horizon to the south may be 6een-the Tbncan and Peacock preceding Eridamis; and the river — the long trailing form-^f which stretches along the western and southern horizon — , west and souih is Argfo and the brilliant Canopus, second only Co the more brilliant Sirius, which may hi seen underneath him. Orion may be seen close to- the western horizon, passing" away as we approach our winter season to re-appear in the east as L he harbinger of spring next September.- ' Astronomical, or more strictly speaking,astrophysic&l research' promises >toy.receive another impetus in the hemisphere! by the action of the Hoard of Governors of the New Zealand Lnstitute. It is r with, great pleasure noted that these gentlemen are now prepared to hand oveu,,th£.,acp.ujcft,ula'tion of the "Carter" bequest .-of .afeout =£2500 to the care of the authorities of the "Victoria University, Wellington, for the purpose of providing telescopic and other equipment on condition that this body are able to provide the proper housing Accom- . modation'and etaff. It is to be hoped that the conditions may be .fulfilled, in which case Wellingtonions should: shortly be the possessors oF an astronomical outfit second to none in Australasia, hhd~,cg|>able-of doing original research work in" the southe r n hemisphere of great value to the science. Wellington ! tht- astronomical world ha 9 von under its optic. Arise and do your duty ' THE HON. DIRECTOR, Wanganui Observatory. March 31st, 1908.