THE NIGHT SKY IN AUGUST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 38

THE NIGHT SKY IN AUGUST.

Specially prepared for the Otago Daily Times and Witness by Mr J. T. Ward, Director of the Wanganui Observatory.

The stars and other celestial bodies are j shown on the above chart as they may be seen on the 15th of the month at about ] 8 p.m. If the student of the heavens ; will bear in mind that, owing to the rota- j tion on its axis and revolution round the sun combined, he sees a staa- a little more to the west every succeeding evening, that, in fact, he will sse a star at any given position earlier by nearly four minutes each succeeding evening, he will understand that he may see the above appearance earlier in the month at a latter hour of the night, and on a later "date at an earlier hour. The stars are shown on the chart as they appear in the sky, and this should be held with that point of the compass marked in the margin to correspond with the direction of the horizon towards which he is observing. If this chart be compared with that published in July it will be seen that several con- 1 stellations then visible in the west have j set, while others no* then visible may now be seen in the eastern sky. Looking towards the north we see Lyra and the brilliant Vega on the right of the meridian, with Hercules on the left, nearest the horizon. Above these may be eeen Serpens and Ophiuchus, and nearer the zenith the Scorpion with the fine red star Antaires. Cygnus "<s just getting clear of thie horizon, with Aquila above it, followed by the Little Dolphin. Pegasus ih

just rising between the north-east and east, while over the eastern point may be seen Aquarius, Capricornus, and Saggittarius from horizon to zenith in the order named. Eridanus with the bright star Achernar is getting up in the south-east, with Phoenix and Grus and the Toucan over them. In the south Canopus is low down, with the re^t of Argo moving towards lower transit, with Hydrus and the two Magellanic Clouds above it. The Southern Cross is now seen declining from its great altitude over the South Polar point, followed by th.9 "Pointers," Alpha cind Beta, Centaure with Triangulum closely following. In the *vest Virgo is just setting, with Hydra and Corvus to the south. Libra is over Virgo, and in the north-west Bootes and the brilliant Arcturus are just setting, followed closely by Corona. Th.s Moon is at this time below the horizon, as is also Mars, which has not yet risen. Venus has set, as has also Jupiter. Next month Mars will "be visible at this hour and in his best position for telescopic scrutiny, being near his opposition at the middle of September. All possessors of good astronomical telescopes should now be observing this planet, «at a later hour in the evening, when he has moved well above the dense atmosphere near the horizon.