ROUGH ASTRONOMICAL NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 3542, 30 June 1874, Page 2

ROUGH ASTRONOMICAL NOTES.

Fob the use op Stab-gazers,

For July, 1874.

The Sun.—The Earth will be in aphelion at aboht half-past nine on tbe morning of the 4th. Consequently at that time the Sun will have a ‘ smaller apparent diameter than at*any period during the year. The Sun is nearly free from spots. There is small group on the part turned to us at present. Tbe Moon. —The Moon will be nearest the Earth on the 7th, and farthest from it on the 21st | it will be new on the 14th and full on the 29th. . Mercury may be seen near the horizon in the - N. W. during the first fortnight of the month shortly after sunset. It is some distance to the ,of the Sun’s track, and preceding Venus. Its dull orange-red color forms a striking contrast with that of its splendid companion. . Venus.—This is now beyond all comparison •the brightest of the “ stars,” Its apparent southerly motion is causing it dayrby day ,to be more favorably- situated ior observation. No one can fail to recognise the “ evening star” in the N.W. sky. Venus will appear to be '-quite close to Regulus on the ,18th. XJnfortu.' nately the nearest approach will be invisible in : JJunedin. j : For the telescope Venus is now ai ’ oxoellent object's' it is fast approaching the half-phase. . ~. ~ .. - in conjunction with ’ of the' month. It will conbrightness of Jupiter has .ny Venn's. At the beginning of the month it -: ;jviU he due north at about nvj»‘.o’clock in_the

evening. At half-past six on the evening oi the 17th it will be very near the star Beta Virfinis. Saturn. —This planet will rise rather early in the evening throughout the present month some distance to tbe south of east. It will be pretty close to the Moon on the 2nd. It is to be found somewhat above the line joining the bright.stars Altair andFomalhaut. Towards the end of the month it will be due north just after midnight, and be nearly at its greatest brightness. It is in the constellation Capricorn. Saturn is one of the most magnificent of celestial objects when it is seen through a good telescope. It is, however, somewhat less favorably situ-

ated for observation than it will be in about three months’ time, as the apparent “ tilt ” of I the rings will be greater than it is A really good view of this planet can be obtained only with an excellent telescope and a high magnifying power. I Uranus. —Too close to the^Sun. Neptune is now % morning star, but is, as always, utterly invisible to the naked eye. FIRST MAGNITUDE STARS. We propose to give a detailed account of the position of these stars only once in three months, mentioning in the interval only those which become “ new evening stars.” At about eleven o’clock in the middle of the month, and ten o’clock at the end of it, a very large first magnitude star may be seen very low down in the north. This is Yega. It is of a bluish white color.