ASTRONOMICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1928, Page 5

ASTRONOMICAL

The planet Mercury rose on November Ist at 4.49 a.m. and on November 15th rises at 4.25 a.m. Venus sets on these dates at 10 p.m. ami 10.29 p.m. respectively. Mars rises on November Ist at 0.7 a.m. and on November 15th. at 11.19 a.m.; Jupiter rises on these dates at 6.44 p.m. and 5.39 p.m. respectively; and Saturn sets on these dates at 10.19 p.m. and 9.31 p.m. respectively. • t - . There will he a. partial eclipse of the sun on November 12th-13th, but it will not be visible in New Zealand. & There will he a total eclipse of the moon on November ;27th ; the earlier stages of the eclipse will 1 not be visible in New Zealand, and when the moon rises, it will have advanced well into the umbra. The total stage off the eclipse begins at 8.33 p.m., the middle of tho eclipse is reached at 9.1 p.m. ' and the total stage ends at 9.29 p.m.; the moon leaves the umbra at 10.39 p.m. and the penumbra at 11.38 p.m.

There will be occultations of tho planet Venus, Jupiter, and Mars by the moon on November 16th, November 25th, and November 30th respectively ; the first two will not he visible in New Zealand; in the case of Mars, the phenomenon will be seen here as a close graze, the earth, moon and planet being in a line at 0.3 a.m. During the month Venus will increase slightly in brightness and Mars will change in apparent magnitude from —0.5 to —1.2, while its distance frdm the earth will diminish from about 69,000,000 to 5.6,500,000 miles. The apparent magnitude of Jupiter during November will be —2.4. .