POSITIONS OF THE STARS

Evening Star, Issue 20062, 31 December 1928, Page 11

POSITIONS OF THE STARS

Siderial time, Olirs. hat. 40 deg. South. The following positions hold at Dunedin for January 15 at 11 p.m. and January 30 at 10 p.m. On intermediate, dates make the times four minutes earlier per dag—e.g., Jan. 16 at 10.50 p.m. The red giant star Bcteigcusc is now north,- at an altitude of 35dcg. It is an irregular variable star, and has been very bright in December. Sirius, tlie brightest star, is N.N.E., alt. 59 deg., while Pollux, of the Heavenly Twins Castor and Pollux, is below Sirius, at an altitude of 13deg. The distance between these two stars is therefore JCdeg., a measure which will help readers to follow the altitudes given 'here. Proeyon is N.E. by N., alt. 35deg., Regains N.E. by E,, lldeg., the Southern Cross S.E. by S., 38deg., Alpha Centauri S.S.E., 24deg. Canopus in the same direction, 82cleg., and Alpha Pavonis, of the 2nd mag,, S.S.W., LScleg. Tins star is the principal one of the trident-shaped constellation known as Pavo the Peacock, and recently it has been noticed that the colour of this star has been changing considerably. it is a very close double star, the two bodies composing it revolving in a period of about 11 days 18 hours. This may have something to do with the colour changes. Aehernar is S.W., alt. 49deg. The South Celestial Pole is midway between Aehernar and the Pointer nearest the Southern Cross, a fact of considerable value to navigators. • Eomalliant is now S.W. by W., lldeg., the beriutifnl double Theta Eridnni W. by S., 56deg., Aldebaraii N.N.W., 25dcg., and Rigcl N.N.W., Sldeg., the planets Mars and Jupiter, X. by W., and i\.W. by W., 17 and 12deg. respectively. On January 15 at 11 p.m. the moon is setting W. by S.