THE NIGHT SKY FOR MAY

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 19, 12 May 1909, Page 56

THE NIGHT SKY FOR MAY

STAR CHART SHOWING the PRINCIPAL CONSTELLATIONS, BRIGHTEST STARS and PLANETS, VISIBLE at ABOVY 8 p.m. on MAY 15.

Specially Drawn for the “ Graphic ” by

J. T. Ward, Hon.

Director Wanganui Observatory.

THE stars, planets, etc., are shown as thev may 'x» seen on the evening of the 15th at 8 p.m., but they may «*e seen in the same position at an earlier date and later hour, or on a later date and earlier hour, by adding four minutes for every preceding day. and substracting the same amount from every following day. 'Io see the stars, as they appear in the •ky. the obMTver should hold the chart with that point of the comp*M downward corresponding to the direction in hs is observing, then the centre ©f the chart represents the point directly •verhead. Comparing the above chart with that

of April it will be seen that several constellations visible upon the western horizon in April have now set, while in the May chart several fresh ones may now be seen rising in the east The bright, clear winter evenings now - approaching present us with skies of especial interest, the darker background of the heavens making the starry host stand out with greater brilliancy and beauty. Looking towards the north the constellations Leo and Virgo will be found on either side of the meridian Leo Minor and Coma —Berenices lower Over these will l>e seen the long trailing form of the Water Snake, and attached, apparently, are Crater, the Cup and Corvus (the Crow), the latter shown in the

northern heavens as perched upon the Hydra. In the north-east, Bootes may be seen just getting above the horizon, the bright star Arcturus being now well risen over the mists of the horizon. In the east are Ophiuchus and Serpens on the one hand, and Sagittarius on the other, north and south respectively, with Scorpio over them both and Libra to the left, with the Centaur closer to the zenith. Serpens on the one hand and Sagittarius on the other, north and south of the east point low down, with Scorpio and the fine red star Antares above, and Libra to the left, the Centaur being closer to the zenith. The Southern Cross and the bright “Pointers’ Alpha and Beta Centauri are now well over the pole, and in their wake the

Ji

Triangle, with Ara and Pavo lower down. The Toucan is now low down under the pole, with the smaller Magellanic cloud, containing that beautiful star, cluster 47 Toucani. Achernar shines brightly low down, while Argo and the brilliant Canopus are nearly due west. Canis Major, with the brightest of all the starry host—Sirius—are near the west, with Columba and Lepus near the horizon. Cancer and Canis Minor are nearing their settings in the northwest. Jnpiter is the only one of the bright planets visible at this time, but lie is a most interesting object to the possessor of a good telescope. Mars will be visible in the course of a month or two in the evenings, and Venus in the west in June.