November, 1903.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



263 



The moon is iu perigee on the lOtli, and in apogee on 

 the 25th. 



The more interesting occultations visible at eouvenient 

 hours are as follow : — 



The Planets. — Mercury is in superior conjunction with 

 the sun on the 21st, and throughout the month the planet 

 is not suitably placed for observation, being lost in the 

 sun's rays. 



Venus is a bright and conspicuous object in the morning 

 sky for some considerable time before sunrise, and 

 throughout the month she rises I'ather more than four 

 hours in advance of the sun. She attains her greatest 

 westerly elongation of 46° 44' on the 28th. With slight 

 optical aid, she can easily be seen during the day, and as 

 some guide to her position the following table gives the 

 time she is on the meridian, and the altitude she attains: — 



The phase of the disc is nearly " half," answering to that 

 of the moon about six days old ; about the middle of the 

 montli the diameter of the disc is 30". 



Mars is not iu a suitable position for observation, being 

 low down in the S.W. shortly after sunset. 



Jupiter is favourably placed for observation throughout 

 the month ; at the beginning of the month he souths at 

 8.20 P.M., and at the end at 6.30 p.m. In consequence of 

 his increasing distance from the earth his apparent polar 

 diameter has diminished to about 41" with a corresponding 

 decrease in lustre. The planet ends his retrograde motion 

 in Aquarius on the 10th when he is at the stationary 

 point; after this date his motion is again direct or easterly. 



The configurations of the satellites as seen in an 

 inverting telescope at 8 p.m. are as follow : — • 



The circle (O) ropvcsenta Jupiter ; signifies that the satellite is 

 on the disc ; # siguiUcs lluit (ho sati'Uite is behind the disc, or in the 

 shadow. The numbers are the numbers of the satellites. 



Saturn is on the meridian shortly after sunset ; about 

 this time, thereforCj is the liest for observation, as he is 

 low down and sets about 9 p.m. The distance of the planet 

 from the earth is increasing, hence his brightness is 

 diminishing. The diameter of the ball is 15", whilst the 

 diameters of the outer major and minor axes are 38" and 

 13" respectively ; we are looking down on the northern 

 surface of the ring at an angle of 20°, consequently the 

 ring appears well open. 



Uranus is approaching conjunction with the sun and 

 cannot be observed. 



Neptune rises about 7 p.m., near the middle of the 

 month ; he is not far from the star f/. Geminorum, as shown 

 on the chart given in the January number. 



The Stars. — About 9 p.m., at the middle of the month, 

 the following constellations may be observed : — 

 Zenith . Cassiopeia. 



South . Andromeda, Pisces, Cetus; Pegasus, Aquarius 

 towards S.W. 



West . Aquila, Cygnus, Lyra a little north of west, 



Corona N.W., setting. 

 East Auriga, Perseus, Pleiades, Taurus ; Aries to 



the S.E. ; Orion rising S.E. 

 North . Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cepheus ; Draco a 



little west of north. 

 Minima of Algol will occur on the 7th at 11.23 p.m., 

 10th at 8.12 P.M., 13th at 5.1 p.m., 28th at 1.6 a.m., 

 and 30th at 9.55 p.m. 



Cijcss (2Eolttmn. 



Bv C. D. LOCOCK, B.A. 



Communications for this column should be addressed 

 to C. D. LococK, Netherfield, Camberley, and be posted 

 by the 10th of each month. 



Solutions of October Problems (P. H. Williams). 



No. 1. 



Author's Key.- 1. Q to Q5. 



[There is a second solution by 1. Q x Kt.] 



No. 2. 



Key-nnire. — 1. Kt to Q7. 



K toQ4, • 2. QtoQB.3ch. 



If 1. 

 1. 

 1. 



. . B to B5, 2. Q to B3ch. 



. . Other moves, 2. Q to B3ch, etc. 



Solutions received from "Alpha," 2, 4; W. Nash, 2, 4; 

 G. A. Porde (Major), 2, 4; "Looker-on," 3, 4; W. H. S M., 

 3, 4; G. W. Middlotou, 3, 4; " Quidam," 3, 4; J. W. 

 Di.\on, 3, 4; C. Johnston, 3, 4; H. S. Braiidreth, 2, 4; 

 H. F. Culmer, 2, 4 ; T. Dale, 2, 4 ; E. M. Oakley, 2, 4 ; 

 E. A. Servante, 3, 4. 



Mr. Williams' two- mover has been the cause of Mr. W. 

 Nash dropping a point behind the other three leaders. 

 As we can hardly expect a two-move problem to perform 

 the service of separation again this year, two three-move 

 problems are given this month, and the same device will 

 probably be tried next month. 



B. J. BltDid. — Tlianks for the game and problem. The 

 former appears below, and I shall hope to find room for 

 the latter durim; the wiut^^r. 



