OBSERVING MARS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 622, 27 September 1909, Page 8

OBSERVING MARS.

, : (By TolesraDli.-SDcctal Corre»cond«ot.ty .>';: • ','. , ;,■■','■■ , ; ; /.Auckland; .September 25.' "' The cloudy state of .the,sky, last .night:prevented the taking of any very.'useful.'observations in Auckland of'the' planet Mars,'• which was in opposition, at 9.30 _o dock. . - ; ' Professor ,Th6mas- did riot .hay 6: a favourable opportunity until about" 10 'p.m; : ; At.that time there were passing clouds ln'.the; sky,. bnt 1 jit .intervals":ho managed''to;secure, a "good view'. He was.ahlo; to' discern ;a v^ry:large disc, which he afterwards; described, as the'.:finest he had ever previously'seen' in connection'with'Mars, - though he' had many times viewed' the.'plnncc under ■' various conditions;;-;."' The.', professor' pointed. out that to; Innko: really'.effective and thorough observations •■ a telescope much mor'o: powerful than any in New, Zealand would ba necessary,.:",.'''.'' ,; ■ '.:<':'■!-■■■ ".'■■ ; -Mr.-J..T..Stevenson P.E.S.A., did-not niako, any observations last night, hut. on -Wednesday night ho'had. a,look through Ms telescope.' The conditions were not, altogether, favourable, for though the night was clear there was considerable atmospherical. vibration; Mr. ■Stevensou was ablo to.discern,'snow- at tup South! Pole, but tho. quantity was not so large ns ho had expected, owing probably to Mars being in- perihelion.'