ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1365, 1 July 1878, Page 2

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, 1878.

The aspect of the evening sky is somewhat improved sinje last month, as we have now Jupiter for a companion, and by the end of the month shall have Saturn also. Venus still maintains a considerable degree of brilliancy in early morning, but Wars is bee nning so much merged in the Sun’s rays that little can be made of him. He will be occulted by the Moon on the 2nd, but invisible, otherwise particulars would have been given. The morning appearance is still interesting. At about 5 o’clock, Jupiter is descending towards the west, Saturn near the meridian, and Venus above the horizon in the east. The Sun is in the sign Cancer, and will be until the 21st, when he enters Leo, and will have about 20ideg. of north declination. The length of day on the Ist will be Bh. 49m., on the 10th about Bh. 59m., on the 20th about 9h. 14m., and on the 30th about 9h. 30m. The Sun will be on the meridian or due north of Christchurch on the Ist at about 3m. 23sec. after 12, on the 10th about 4min. 57sec. after 12, on the 20th about 6min. alter 12, and on the 30th about 6min. lOsec. after 12. The Sun will be at greatest distance from the earth on the 2nd. The Moon in her monthly wanderings will oocnlt Mars on Tuesday, the 2nd, very near Jupiter on the south in the evening of Monday the 15th, to the north of Saturn near midnight on Saturday the 20th, to the south of Mercury iu the morning of Tuesday the 23rd, to the north of Vanns iu the evening of Saturday the 27th, and to the south of Mars iu the afternoon of Wednesday the 31st. The Moon will be at her greatest southern declination on Wednesday the 10th, and at her greatest northern on Friday the 27th. She will cross the Equator coming southward on Friday the sth, and cross again going southward on Thursday the 18th. The phases or changes of the Moon will be as follows New Moon on the Ist at 1 minute after 12h. iu the morning. First quarter on the 7th at 51 minutes after 7h. in the evening. Full Moon on the 14th at 24 minutes after 10b. in the evening. Last quarter on the 22ud at 46miu. after llh. iu the evening. New Moon on the 30th at 10 minutes after lOh. iu the morning.

The Moon will be nearest to the earth at noon on Friday the sth, and at greatest distance from on Saturday the 20th. An eclipse of the Sun will take place on the 30th; it is principally confined to the northern regions, and will be invisible iu New Zealand. Mercury on the Ist rises about the same time as the Sun, and will continue to rise during daylight all the mouth, and after the J oth he maybe seen in the evening after the Sun has set. On the 4th at midnight he will be iu superior conjunction wuth the Sun; on the 10th iu greatest heliocentric, latitude north, 7deg.; and on the 23d. 9h. a.m. iu conjunction with Mars, distant Odeg. I9d. north.

Venus is a morning star, rising on the Ist about 4h. 34m. a m., on the 10th about 4h. 51m., on the 20th about sh. llm., aud on the 30th about sh. 21m. She will be on the meridian or due north on the Ist at 9h. 20m. a.m., on the 10th at 9h. 28m. a.m., on the 20th at 9h. 39m. a.m., and on the 30th at 9h. 50m. a.m., having about 22deg. of north declination, and on the 27d. Bh. p.m. in conjunction with the Moon, distant 4deg. 35m. south. Mars is an evening star, aud will be during the month, but in such proximity to the Sun that lit tle can be made out of him. He will be occulted by the moon on the 2nd, but invisible ; on the 3ld. 3h, p.m, in conjunction with the moon, distant 2deg. 9m. north, and on the 31d. 7h. p.m., will be at greatest distance from the Sun. Jupiter is an evening stai, rising on the Ist about 6h. 30m. p.m., on the 10th about 6h. 49m. p.m., ou the 20th sh. 4m. p.m., and on the 30th about Ih 16m. p.m,, and will be visible the whole night; ou the 15d. 4h. p.m. in conjunction with the Moon, distant Odeg. 18m. north, aud Oj the 25d, Bh. p.m. in opposition to the Sun.

Saturn is an evening star, rising ou the Ist about llh. 26m. p.m., ou the 10th about lOh. 56m. p.m., on the 20th about lOh. 16m. p.m., and on the 30th about 9h. 36m. p.m., aud will be visible through the night; on the 16d. 7h. a.m. will be stationary, and on the 20d. llh. p.m. in conjunction with the Moon, distant 7deg. south. Uranus will be on the meridian about 3h. 10m. p.m., having about 13deg. of north declination. Neptune will bo on the meridian about 7h. 45m. a.m., having about 13deg. of north declination.