ASPECT OF THE HEAVENS. 273 



succeed with objects which are too transparent for ordinary dark- 

 field methods, and will very much assist the definition of those 

 whose structure is very transparent and colourless. 



A word must be added in condemnation of a method which 

 was a short time ago very fashionable, and still has some support- 

 ers, especially in America, the swinging substage — a substage 

 condenser so arranged as to be made to throw the light obliquely 

 upon the object. Of all methods this is the worst, since even an 

 approximation to focus is impossible, and the loss of light by 

 reflection is very great. We mention it only as a thing to be 



avoided. 



(To be continued.) 



aspect of tbe Ibeavene: 



©ctober, IRovember, December, 1890» 



By a. Graham, M.A., etc., Cambridge Observatory. 



I^HE most striking phenomena in this interval are a partial 

 eclipse of the Moon on November 26 and a total eclipse 

 of the Sun on December 12 : both invisible at Greenwich. 

 The former may be seen in Asia and Australia and parts of 

 Europe and Africa, the earth's shadow being projected a very little 

 way on the moon's edge ; the latter in the South Pacific Ocean, 

 and as a partial eclipse in the southern regions of Australia. 



Occultations of Neptune by the Moon may be seen at Green- 

 wich on Oct. 2 from 9/^. 46;;/. till 10//. 42;;/. in the evening; and 

 on Dec. 23 from 9//. 7;//. till ^h. T)Sm. 



The phases of the Moon are : — Last Quarter — Oct. 5, 8//. 23;;/. 

 aft. ; Nov. 4, 4/1. lyn. aft. ; Dec. 4, i/i. 2jm. aft. New Moon — 

 Oct. 13, TT/^. 5/;/. aft.; Nov. 12, i/i. 38;;/. aft.; Dec. 12, 3//. iim. 

 morn. First Quarter — Oct. 2 i, 5/^. 37W. morn; Nov. 19, o/i. 4S^^^- 

 aft.; Dec. 18, 8/1. T,6ni. aft. Full Moon— Oct. 27, ii/i. 42///. aft.; 

 Nov. 26, i//!. 23;;/. aft. ; Dec. 26, 5//. 57///. morn. 



Other occultations of Neptune will occur on Oct. 30 about 8//. 

 morn and Nov. 26 about 4//. aft., and one of Mars on Oct. 20 

 about half-an-hour after noon ; but none of these will be visible to us. 



Mercury will be a morning star till Nov. 1 7, when it passes 



Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science. 



New Series. Vol. III. 1890. u 



