ASTRONOMICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1931, Page 5

ASTRONOMICAL

The suit wilt tHitw the zodiacal »ig» Aries on March 22nd, when the equinox occurs; the distance of the earth from the sun will then be about- 92,220,000 miles.

The planet Mercury rose on March Ist at 5.3 a .tn. ; it is approaching the sun, with which body it will he in superior conjunction on March 15th; it may be visible in tbe western sky towards the close of the month; Venus rose on March Ist at 2.25 a.m. and rises on March loth at 2.12 a.m., and Mars rises on these dates at 5.30 p.m. and 4.12 p.m. respectively. Jupiter rose on March Ist at 4.18 p.m. and rises on March 15th at 2.33 p.m.; Saturn rises on these dates at 1.53 a.m. and 0.36 a.m. respectively.

The planets Jupiter and Mars have been striking objects in the night sky during the past month and jtheit motion relative to the stars has been very interesting. Each body has been moving in a westerly direction for some time, but Jupiter will be stationary on March 7th, and Mars two days later; after these dates eacli body will begin to move easterly and their changes of position relative to the Twins, Castoi and Polux, should be watched. The brilliancy of Mars will decline rapidly during March, its appearing magnitude changing during that period from 0.4 to 0.3; Jupiter will lose about one-fifth of a magnitude during that interval.