THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR MAY. 



Bv W. SH.VCKLETON. .\.R.C.S., F.R.A.S. 



The Sr\. — ( )ii the 1st. the Sun rises at 4.35 and sets at 7.19 ; 

 on the 31st he rises at 3.51 and sets at 8.3. Sun-spots and 

 faculae may usually be seen on the solar disc, but spots are 

 small and not numerous. The positions of the Sun's axis, 

 equator, and heliographic longitude of the centre, of the disc 

 are shown in the following table: — 



V'enus:- 



The Moon :- 



There is a Penuinbral Eclipse of the Moon on the morning of 

 the 13th. but since the Moon sets before the middle of the 

 eclipse and only passes through the penumbra very little can 

 be seen. The following are the particulars; — 



May 13th. 

 First contact with the Penumbra i^ 46" a.m. 



Middle of the ecHpse 5" 57'" .i.m. 



Last contact with the Penumbra «'' 7™ a.m. 



The first contact occurs at 65° from the North point of the 

 Moon's limb towards the East. The Moon sets at Greenwich 

 at 4'' -7"" a.m. 



Occui.T.ATlONS.— No naked eye stars are occulted and 

 visible froin this countrv during the month. 



THE PLANETS. 



Mercury : 



On May 5th, Mercury is in inferior conjunction with the 

 Sun and therefore unobscrvable. Towards the end of the 

 month the planet is a morning star in .\ries rising at 3.11 a.m. 

 on the 31st. On June 1st the planet is at greatest westerly 

 elongation from the Sun of 24 30'. The planet is in con- 

 junction with Saturn on the 29th May, at 3 a.m. 



Venus is a brilliant object in the evening sky, looking N.W". 

 by W. immediately after sunset. 



The planet is well placed for observation, appearing high 

 above the horizon at sunset, and not setting till 11.15 p.m. on 

 May 14th, and 11.22 on May 31st. 



.\s the distance from the Earth diminishes, the apparent 

 diameter of the planet increases, and is now about 16"; later 

 in the year, when the planet appears still brighter, the diameter 

 increases to over 40" 



The planet can readily be seen with the naked eye long 

 before it is dark, and a telescope of only 1-inch aperture is 

 sufficient optical aid to find it in broad daylight when directed 

 to the correct position in the sky, 



.■Vs seen in the telescope, the planet appears gibbous, 0-7 of 

 the disc being illuminated ; broad daylight is the best time for 

 observing, and with magnifying powers of 150 to 250 on 4-inch 

 or 5-inch telescopes shadings may be seen on the planet's disc 

 on the terminator side, the limb appearing intensely brilliant. 

 The Moon appears near the planet on May 1st, and on the 

 30th. conjunction takes place with .Neptune. 



M.\KS : — 



Mars is a morning star, rising E, by S.. about 2.20 a.m.. 

 near the middle of the month. The apparent diameter of the 

 planet is only 6"- 5. This is too small for useful observations 

 to be made ; towards the end of the year, however, the planet 

 is in opposition, and the apparent diameter will then be three 

 times the above amount. 



Jupiter : — 



Jupiter is in opposition to the Sun on May 1st, and hence at 

 this time he appears on the meridian at midnight, and, more- 

 over, he then appears at his brightest. 



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