1.74 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[June 1, 1889. 



with the sun on the 24th, is not at all well situated for 

 observation in these latitudes. He rises on the 1st at 

 9h. 51m. P.M., and on the 30th at 7h. 40m. p.m., his appa- 

 rent diameter on the last day of the month being 46^". 

 The following phenomena of the satellites occur between 

 the time of the planet's being 8° above the horizon- and 

 midnight, G.M.T., on the days named. At llh. 14m. p.m. 

 on the 5th an ingress of the shadow of the first satellite, 

 and at llh. 41m. p.m. an ingress of the satellite itself At 

 llh. l()m. P.M. on the 6th a reappearance from occultation 

 of the same satellite. At llh. 11m. p.m. on the 9th an 

 egress of the second satellite. At lOh. 30m. 9s. p.m. on the 

 13th an eclipse (disappearance) of the first satellite. At 

 lOh. 30m. P.M. on the 15th an egress of the shadow of the 

 third satellite, and at llh. i!3m. p.m. an egress of the 

 satellite itself. The satellite should be watched for change 

 of brightne.'^s before egress. At lOh. 24m. p.m. on the 16th 

 an ingress of the shadow of the second satellite, followed at 

 lOh. 47m. P.M. by an ingress of the satellite itself. At 

 llh. 47m. P.M. on the 21st an egress of the shadow of the 

 first satellite, and four minutes later an egress of the satellite 

 itself. This transit should be carefully watched, as the 

 satellite may be projected on its shadow. This will be a 

 very good opportunity for observing whether the shadow is 

 larger than it ought to l^e, as has been stated by some 

 observers. (See Webb's " Cele.stial Objects.") On the 

 22nd, at llh. 35m. p.m., an ingress of the shadow of the 

 third satellite, and at llh. 47m. P.M. an ingress of the 

 satellite itself This phenomenon should be observed for 

 the reasons given above. On the 25th a reappearance from 

 eclipse of the second satellite at 9h. 47m. 38s. p.m. On the 

 28th an ingress of the first satellite at llh. 18m. p.m., and 

 of the shadow at llh. 24m. p.m. Here again the phe- 

 nomenon of projection may occur. On the 25th there is a 

 predicted eclipse of the fourth satellite, which is computed 

 to di.sappear at 8h. 48m. and reappear at Dh. 55m. ; but 

 there will probably be no real eclipse, the satellite remain- 

 ing visible as a speck of light in good telescopes. In any 

 event it will just skirt the edge of the .shadow, and any 

 irregularities in its brightness due to clouds or inequalities 

 of absorption in the atmosphere of Jupiter should be noted. At 

 lOh. 59m. 35.S. on the same evening there will be a reappearance 

 from eclipse of the first satellite. Jupiter describes a short 

 retrogi-ade path in Sagittarius, but does not pass very near any 

 naked-eye star. Saturn is still visible, but must be looked for 

 very early in the evening to be seen to any advantage. 

 On the 1st he sets at llh. 12m. p.m., and on the 30th 

 at lOh. 19m. p.m., his apparent diameter at that date being 

 16". He describes a short path through Cancel into Leo. 

 Uranus rises on the 1st at 2h 56m. p.m., and on the 30th at 

 Ih. Om. P.M. He describes a very short reti'ograde path in 

 Virgo, to the S.W. of 6 Virginis. Neptune is invisible. 

 There is no well-marked shower of shooting stars in June, 

 owing probably to there being no real darkness during the 

 whole month. The moon enters her first quarter at 

 8h. 2m. P.M. on the 6th, is full at Ih. 58m. p.m. on the 13th, 

 enters her last quarter at 7h. 35m. a.m. on the 20th, and is 

 new at 8h. 54m. a.m. on the 28th. There will only be one 

 occultation visible— and that can hardly be said to be 

 visible — at Greenwich during June. The 6th magnitude 

 star B.A.C. 5758 will di.sappear at 3h. 44m. on the morning 

 of the 13th, at an angle of 98° from the vertex, the moon 

 being setting at the time ; the reappearance will occur while 

 the moon is below the horizon. At llh. 26m. p.m. on the 

 same evening there will be a near approach of the 6th 

 magnitude star B.A.C. 6088, at an angle of 161° from the 

 lunar vertex. At 2h. 34m. on the morning of the 20th 

 there will be a near approach of the 5th magnitude star 

 30 Piscium, at an angle of 173° from the vertex. 



WiWt Column* 



By W. Montagu Gattie. 



AMERICAN LEADS. 

 {Continued from page 155.) 

 N' our last article we gave a brief explanation of the 

 system of American leads ; and, in pointing out the 

 scientific uniformity of practice which it is aimed to 

 establish, we, so to speak, stated the case of its sup- 

 porters. It was originally our intention to proceed 

 at once to consider the objections which have been 

 urged against the system by its opponents, amrn? 

 whom are several distinguished players. But we 

 have, in the meantime, received a letter, which we 

 publish below, raising an interesting point in connection with the 

 lead of the " penultimate," or lowest but one, from a five-card suit, 

 which, as we have already seen, is a particular case of the first 

 maxim of the American code ; and, as we imagine that the illustra- 

 tive hand furnished by our correspondent will, in the view of most 

 of our readers, agreeably vary the monotony of theoretical dis- 

 cussion, we propose to defer reviewing the arguments of the 

 opposing school till next month, when we shall also have some- 

 thing to say as to the extent to which the system is applicable to 

 trumps. 



We have already pointed out that circumstances may frequently 

 arise in the course of a hand, under which it becomes necessary to 

 modify or altogether to abandon any rule for leading. It will be 

 seen that Mr. Hughes adduces a case which, in his opinion, justifies 

 a departure from the penultimate lead; and, although we are not at 

 present prepared to admit this conten'ion, the question certainlj' 

 affords fair ground for discussion. 



To the Editor of Knowledge. 



Sib, — I shall be glad of your decision as to the correct lead of 

 trumixs by a player holding five, when his partner has called. 



The ordinary lead of the penultimate is — at any rae occasionally 

 — open to the objection that the player's partner may be able to 

 place the lower trump in his hand, and thereby infer tliat he has 

 led from two trumps only. 



In the accompanying hand, which occurred in actual play, Z 

 turned up the 2 of spades, and his lead of the 5 caused Y to infer 

 that he had only the trump card remaining. Y therefore finessed 

 ace, queen, although B's play had shown that he could take a cer- 

 tain ruff in clubs. 



In my opinion, in answer to a call, the lead of the lowe.st trump, 

 showing four or one, is more advantageous than the lead of the 

 penultimate, and I should like to know whether this point has been 

 discussed by the authorities on whist. — I am, sir, yours faithfully, 



Frank S. Hughes. 



Westminster : May 10, 1889. 



Hand No. 4. 



Y's Hand. 

 Score — A B, ; Y Z, 1. Z turns up the 2 of Spades. 



Mote. — A and B are partners against Y and Z. A has the first 

 lead ; Z is the dealer. The card of the leader to each trick is indi- 

 cated by an afow. 



Trick 1. 

 Z 



Tricks 

 Note 



A B, 1 ; Y Z, 0. 

 Y commences a " call ' 



Trick 2. 



Z 



Tricks— A B, 2 ; Y Z, 0. 

 in both suits. 



