ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 356, 22 February 1881, Page 2

ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA, 1881.

The Wellington Almanac f/or the current year gives the following interest ing information : , " There is much this year, for th® observer, of singular interest. lh®middle of an almost total eclipse of th® Mo 0 n will be at 4h. 28m. »A, -Dec. 6. The Moon- will -set at Wellington about 3h 20aiin, so it is very poisibl®. that.from the increasing twilight, and decrease 5 of the Moon’s light from th®Earth’s ■ shadow, that the moon will become invisible. There will be a transit of Mercury on November 8, commencing at 9h 46min a. m., ending at 3h 7m p.m. Mercury will cros^h^^^^^^

the Sun, touching the Sun on the right hand side. If it be a clear day, a sharp eye may detect the planet, but any telescope will show it plainly ; of course the observer must use a dark glass to protect the eye. Observers should watch whether there be any ring of light ■or around Mercury when on the-Spn ; or any spot of light on the disc. The transit is of value only as practice for the transit of Yensus, 1882. With a large telescope care should bo taken to see whether the whole disc can be detected when part only is on the sun, The planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, will be at their nearest approach to the Sun, or at their Perihelia, in this year. Jupiter Saturn and Neptune will be near one another, but Uranus is far distant from the three on the right. At Wellington and at all places south of latitude 40deg the Moon will occult Yenus on August 21, at 2h 19m a.m.j she will occult Mars on September 16 jtlh 20m a.m. In December Mars will be in opposition, and will shine with great brilliancy.