Astronomy Science

Progress, Volume VII, Issue 4, 1 February 1912, Page 996

Astronomy Science

BY THE HON. DIRECTOR, WANGANUI OBSERVATORY.

Astronomical Notes for February

The Sun is in the constellation Caprieornus till the 15th, when he enters Aquarius. His southern declination decreases from the 17th to the Bth degree during the month, and his altitude at apparent noon is lessened by the same amount, viz., from 67.3 deg. on the Ist, to 58.2 deg. on the 28th. The Sun is now practically free from spots, hut rather fine faculae have been noticed at either limb. The Moon, in her monthly circuit of the heavens, comes into the vicinity of the planets and some of the brighter stars, and serves as a convenient pointer to them. She will be near Jupiter on the morning of the 12th, Venus on the morning of the 15th, Uranus on the morning of the 16th, Mercury on the evening of the 17th, Saturn on the evening of the 24th, Mars on the evening of the 26th, Her path through the constellation visible in our evening skies, at about 8 p.m., is as follows:—In Cancer from the Ist to the 3rd; Leo on the 4th and sth; she will appear again in Pisces on the 21st and 22nd, Aries on the 23rd and 24th, Taurus on the 25th and 26th, Gemini on the 27th, 28th and 29th, and Cancer again at the opening of March. Phases of the Moon in New Zealand mean time:— Full Moon . . 3 days 11 hrs. 58 min. a.m. Last Quarter . . 10 days 12 lirs. 21 min. p.m. New Moon .. 18 days shrs. 14 min. p.m. First Quarter . . 26 days 6 hrs. 57 min. a.m. Perigee .. 2 days 1 hr. 33 min. a.m. Apogee .. 14 days 10 hrs. 30 min. p.m. Mercury is a morning star during the month in Sagittarius. He will be in Aphilion on the sth, in conjunction with the planet Uranus on the 7th, in conjunction with the Moon on the 17th, and in greatest heliocentric latitude south on the 25th. , Venus is also a morning star during February close to the Sun’s place. She will be in conjunction with the Moon on the morning of the 14th, will come into the same right ascension with Uranus on the morning of the 25th, when the two planets will be separated by a little more than half a degree of arc, Venus being to the north. She will be in her descending node on the 27th, or passing south of the ecliptic on that date. Mars is still a prominent object in our evening skies, in Taurus, and moving forward north of the Hyades, and Aldebaran, at the end of the month. His angular diameter is now shrinking rapidly and, as a telescopic object, he may be almost counted out, for this opposition, his phase is distinctly gibbous. He will be in conjunction with the Moon on the evening of the 26th. Jupiter is a morning star in the constellation Scorpio, and to the north-east

of the bright star Autares. He will be in conjunction with the Moon on the morning of the 12th. His position is a good one for the morning observer at this time, being fairly high in the heavens, and the detail of his “belts” standing out clearly on suitable occasions. .Saturn is well placed for the observer during the earlier hours of the evening. He may be seen to the west of Mars, shining with a steady yellowish light. His fine ring system is well opened now and affords a beautiful spectacle in a telescope of fair dimensions. He will be in quadrature (with the Sun) on the 4th, and in conjunction with the Moon on the evening of the 24th. Uranus is now a morning star in Sagitarrius. He will be hi conjunction with the Moon on the morning of the 16th, and with Venus on the morning of the 25th, when the planet might be easily found at about half a degree, or rather more than the Moon’s diameter, to the south of the bright planet. Neptune is in Gemini and an evening star. He will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 2nd and 29th. The 'Constellations for the middle of the month, at about 8.30 p.m., are placed as follows: the north Taurus, with the Pleiades and Hyades, Aldebaran, the bright red eye of the Bull in the latter group, on the left side, and Gemini on the right of the meridian. Auriza, and the bright star Capella, is low down in the north, with Orion much higher and Lepus over this again, with Taurus and Gemini nearer the horizon. Canis Major and the brilliant Sirius south of and nearer the zenith. Leo may be seen just rising in the north-east, Cancer being well up at this time, and the long trailing shape of Hydra the Water-snake will be seen extended from north-east to south-east. The Centaur is now coming out from under the South Pole, preceded by the Southern Cross, Argo and the rich portion of the Milky Way is now well up in the south-eastern sky. Cetus is approaching the horizon in the west, followed by Eridamus, and Pisces will be seen near the horizon in the north-west followed by Aries. Comets.—Brooks’ and Quenisset’s comets have been observed here during the past month. A fairly powerful telescope is now necessary to see them, and one mounted equatorially, enabling the observer to find it from the ephemeris. I shall be glad to send an ephemeris of either comet to anyone having a telescope and desiring that information. January 21, 1912.