ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA.
SEVF.X .X'UPSES THIS ITKAB. Astronomically considered the year 1017 is deeidedl) more interesting than either l!lll! or 1918, being marked by seven eclipse;., the maximum number that can occur in any one year. In every year not less than two, o; more thai: -ioven eclipses occur. This year two will be total eclipses of the moon visible in New Zealand, one on the evening of .January 8, and the other on the evening of December 28. On .Tanuary 2.'1, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in Kussia and Siberia, while another on ■lime 1!) will lie routined almost, entirely to regions within tin Arctic Circle. On the morning of July 0 a total lunar eclipse will occur, but will be invisible in New Zealand, because it will not commence till the moon lias set. Again, on .July 111. an observer suitably, situated in Antarctica would see a small portion of the sun eclipsed, but on December 14 lie would be more favored, and would witness an annular eclipse Curiously enough one of the best localities from which to view this latter eclipse Mould be the South Pole itself Finally, on Sunday, March 4, a most strikin: occupation of Saturn by the moon lu&y be witnessed. The distance of tin. eartil from uic sun varies, the maximum variation bein" about three million miles, or just over three per cent, of the mean distance. The earth will be nearest, or in perihelion, on January 3, and furthest away, or in aphelion, on July 4 This is because the path of the earth around tlie sun is an ellipse, not a true circle. It must, not. .however, be. imagined that the excessive heat in January is in any way connected with our nearness to the sun.
Turning to the systematic survey of the major planets it will be found that Venn? will appear as an evening star in the spring, and continue to increase in brightness till January 5, 1018. Mars will not he favorably situated for observation next year, being for the most part too close In the sun. although in winter it will appeal as a morning star, and by the end of the year may be seen before midnight. Jupiter now an evening star, will continue 10 m visible as such until about F.astcr. nt,.l')une it. will re-appear in the morning sky. while after August it will rise before midnight, and will be seen to advantage in the last three months of the year. Saturn, in Gemini, near Castor and Pollux, is likewise an evening star at present, continning as such till June, and re-appear-ing as a morning star in September. In WIS there will lie two eclipses of the sun, and a partial eclipse of the moon. Of these the lunar eclipse, on June 24, will be the only one visible in New Zealand
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Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1917, Page 5
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478ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA. Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1917, Page 5
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