ASTRONOMICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1927, Page 4

ASTRONOMICAL

TWO ECLIPSES IN DECEMBER. The sun will enter the zodiacal sign Capricorn us on December 23rd at 8.-IS a.in., when till' solstice occurs. Ibis is the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere, and the one on which the sun attains its greatest meridian altitude. The distance of the earth from the sun on this day will he about 91,170,000 miles.

The planet Mercury rises on December Ist at 4.20 a.m.. and on December loth at -1.29 a.ill. ;it will he seen will to the south of east; during the month its apparent magnitude will increase from —0.4 t 0—0.7. Venus rises on December Ist. at 3.20 a. lll. and on December loth, at 3.30 a. ill.; Mars rises Oil these dates at 4.3 S a.in and 1.13 a. hi respectively. Jupiter sets on December Ist at 2.1 b a.in., and oil December loth at 1.24 a.in. Saturn is in conjunction with tho sun on December 3rd; it will lie seen in the eastern sky towards the close of the month well to the soatli of oast. There will he an oecultation of -“t 1 planet Venus by the moon on December ?rnh. the earth. moon. and planet being in a line at 4.27 p.m.; the phenomenon will he visible as a close graze in the latitude of Hokitika. There will be a total eclipse of the moon partly visible in New Zealand on December 9th; the moon will onttr the penumbra at 3.23 a.in., and the umbra at 4.22 n.m. but the moon will set that day at 0.20 n.m.. about five minutes before the total stage of tho eclipse begins. There will be a partial eclipse of the sun visible in New Zealand on December 24th: the eclipse begins at 2.10 p.m.. and the stage of maximum obscuration will occur at 4.29 p.m., when 0.549 of the sun’s disc will he hidden by tht moon; the eclipse will end at 0.18 p.m.