The Night Sky in September.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11, 11 September 1912, Page 60

The Night Sky in September.

THE STAR CHART BELOW IS SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR THE “N.Z. GRAPHIC” BY

MR. J. T. WARD,

DIRECTOR

OF THE WANGANUI OBSERVATORY.

TV lll*' Minis. plamts, and other • celestial bodies are shown by th* al<\* chart, as they may be seen in the sky at about h ?i> p.m. on the 15th. 11 will, however, s< i \« for oilier dates by adding four loiniiteM per day for any date before tin* 15th, or <lvdm ting the Maine amount for any number of days after; thus the Maine appeal ern e of the night wky may be seen on the Ist, nt 9.30; on the 15th at 8.30, on the 30th at 7,30. The chart as printed •crvcs for the northern view. It should

be held upside down for the southern, and on either side for east or west. In all vases the point of compass, shown on rim of chart, should be underneath, the cross at centre of chart denoting the point overhead. In comparing the chart with that drawn for August, it will be noticed that several couMtellations then visible in the west have now disappeared below the horizon, while others not then Io be seen have now made their appearance in the eastern sky. In the north we see Cygnus and Lyra nearest the horizon with Delphinus and Aquila over them, and, higher again,

Sagittarius ami Capricornus. The Great Square of Pegasus is now well up in the north-east, and Pisces more east of this with Aquarius ami the Southern Fishes and <'etas more over the eastern point. In the south-east we see the River Eridanus with the bright star Avhcrnar leading her, and Hydrus, Pavo, and Toucan. Argo is now low down again, on the southern meridian, with the line star Canopus well out to the east. The Southern Cross is moving down in the southwest, followed by the bright stars of the Centaur, Alpha and Beta, Centauri, the “ Pointers.” The last of Virgo is over the west, while above this may

be seen Libra, with the Scorpion above. Ophiuchus and Serpens are in the northwest, ami Hercules, partly set, may bo seen beneath them. The moon at this tine*may be Been in Libra, and will In*, on the evening before, a beautiful sight near Venus, on the skirts of Virgo. Venus lias set at the time for which this chart is drawn, but may I>q seeii well on any evening at a slightly earlier hour, and later from night to night, a 3 she moves easterly. Jupiter in the Scorpion is still a lino and prominent object, and well worth study in the telescope.