ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FORE AUG.

Southland Times, Issue 1005, 17 August 1868, Page 3

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FORE AUG.

The great eclipse of the Sun y which takes place on the 18th, is not risible in New Zealand. The central line of the eclipse begins at Aden, passes through India, the Gulphof Bengal, the Peninsula of Malacca, Borneo, Celebes, and ends in New Guinea. Total darkness in these latitudes will last about six minutes and a half. -This is owing to the eclipse happening when the Moon is at her nearest point, or perigee, to the Earth, and consequently her apparent diameter is so much larger ; while the Sun is at his apogee, or greatest distance away, and his size apparently so much the less. Scientific expeditions have been despatched by both Britain and France, for the purpose of observing the phenomena attending the eclipse, and of making another attempt at the solution of the difficult problems which are presented on | such occasions. i Fall Moon occurs on the 3rd, last [ quarter on the 11th, New Moon on the 18th, and first quarter on 25th ; is near Jupiter on the Bth, Mars on the 14th, Venus on the 15th, Mercury on the 17th, ■ and Saturn on the 24th. Is nearest the 1 Earth on the 17th, and farthest from it on the 3rd and 31st. Mercury is a morning star, rising on the Bth about jinhpur and forty minutes before the Sun. This interval gradually decreases, till at the end of the month the planet and the Sun rise together. Venus is now a morning star, and attains her greatest brilliancy on the 21st. Is in the constellation Gemini. Mars is also a morning star, and in the same part of the sky. Jupiter is still situated in Pisces, and is visible all night. Saturn is an evening star, and is in the constellation Scorpio.