ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR 1881.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 40, 18 January 1881, Page 2

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR 1881.

The following Astronomical Notes f..r 1881, furnished by the Yen Archdfa< on C?tock. appear in the Welling* ton Almanack just published : — •'There is mucir this year, for the observer, of singular interest The middle of an almost total pclipse of the Moon will be at 4h. 38 n. a.m. December 6th The Moon will set at Wellington about 3h. 20m so it is very possible that from the increasing twilight, and decrease of the Moon's light from the Earth's shadow, that the Moon will become invisible. There will be a transit of Mercury on November Bth, commencing at 9h. 46m a m., ending at 3h. 7m. ' p.m. Mercury will cross the centra of the Sun touching the Sun on he r>ght haud aide. If it be a clear day, a sharp eye may de ect the plane*, but any telescope will show ' it plainly ; of course the observer mubt Use a dark gla*B to protect the eye. Obseivers should watch whether there bo any ring of lighter of shadow around Mercury whenpin the Sun ; or any spot of light on the disc. The trauesit is of value only as pra tioefortLe transit of Venqfc, lßß2, With a large telescope care should be taken to see whether the whole dibo can be detected when part <>nly in OB the Sun. The planets, Jupi-

ter. Saturn, Uranus, and Neptunp will be at their nearest approach to the Sun. or at their perihelia, i' this y r ar Jupiter. Sa'urn, aiv will be near one another, bu 1 Uranu is far distant from the three on th« - right. At Wellington, and at all places South of latitude 40 deg., the Moon will occult Vebus on Augusi 21st, at 2h. 19m. am, she nil occult Mars on September 16th pt lh. 20m. a.m In D- ember Mar will be in opposilion, and will shin« •wi'h great opporiunity.

(For cotitinuation of reading matter see fourth page.)