THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR MARCH. 



Bv \V. SHACKLETOX, F.R..A.S., A.R.C.S. 



The Sux. — On the 1st the Sun rises at 6.49 and sets at 5.37; 

 on the 31st he rises at 5.42 and sets at 6.27. The Sun enters 

 the sign of Aries at 6 p.m. on the 21st, when Sprin.s; com- 

 mences. Small groups of spots may usually be observed on 

 the Sun's disc, but there has been a considerable falling off in 

 solar activity, both as observed visually and spectroscopically : 

 at the time of writing one small spot is visible. The positions 

 of the Sun's axis, centre of disc, and heliographic longitude 

 are given below : — 



Venus : 



The Zodiacal light may be seen in the West, shortly after 

 sunset. After the middle of the month is the best time for 

 observation, as the Moon will not have risen, and the tapering 

 glow may be seen for 30 or 40 degrees along the ecliptic. 



OCCULT.^TIONS. — The following are the principal occulta- 

 tions visible from Greenwich : — 



THE PLANETS. 



Venus is an evening star, and may be seen immediately after 

 sunset, looking \V., not very hi.gh abo\ e the horizon. Through- 

 out the month the planet sets 

 about 2i hours after the Sun. 



In the telescope the planet 

 appears gibbous, about 0-9 of 

 the disc being illuminated. 



On March 2nd, the Moon 

 appears near the planet, V'enus 

 being 2° 20' to the North, but on 

 April 1st. the two appear in still 

 closer proximity as shown below. 

 Venus at 5.45 p.m. being only 

 14' to the North. The Moon 

 will be only two days old, but 

 if the weather is favourable it should be easy to see both 

 the planet and Moon, quite early on in the twilight. 



M.\RS : — 



Mars is visible for a short time in the early mornings, rising 

 about 4.30 a.m., near the middle of the month. The planet is 

 an inconspicuous object in Sagittarius, and is ill-suited for 

 observing telescopically, as the apparent diameter is about 

 5". The Martian equinox occurs on March 7th, when Spring 

 commences in the Southern Hemisphere. 



Jupiter : — 



Mercury is in superior conjunction with the Sun on the 20th, 

 and is thus unobscrvable throughout the month. 



Jupiter rises in the E.S.E. at 11.30 p.m. on the 1st and at 

 9.25 p.m. on the 31st; is the most conspicuous object in the 

 late evening sky looking East. The planet is describing a 

 retrograde path in Libra about 1° N. of a- Librae. "The 

 .ittcndant bright moons can be seen in very small telescopes 

 or even in a pair of binoculars magnifying 6 or 8 times, 

 whilst the belts are also visible in small telescopes of about 

 two inches aperture using a magnifying power of about 50. 

 The equatorial diameter of the pl.tnet on the 19th is 41"-5. 



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