THE FACE OE THE SKY EOR OCTOBER. 



Bv \V. SH.VCKLKTON. F.R..\.S.. .\.K.(".Sc. 



The Sun. — On the 1st the Sun rises at 6.0 and sets at 5.40 ; 

 on the 31st he rises at 6.52 and sets at 4.36. Conspicuous 

 Sun-spots and faculae are not to be expected at this phase of 

 the eleven-yearly cycle, but smaller displays may occasionally 

 be visible. The positions of the Sun's axis, centre of the disc, 

 and heliographic longitude of the centre are given in the 

 following table : 



An Annular Eclipse of the Sun occurs on the 22nd, it 

 is invisible in this country, but visible as a partial eclipse 

 in India and Australia. 



The Moon : — 



OccuLT.'iTIONS. — The following table gives particulars of 

 the principal occultations visible from Greenwich : — 



Mercury : — 



THE PLANETS. 



Mercury is a morning star until the 23rd, when he will be 

 in superior conjunction with the Sun. The planet may 

 possibly be observable during the first week of the month, 

 when he rises, almost due East, more than an hour before the 

 Sun. 



Venus : — 



Venus is a morning star throtighout the month, rising, 

 almost due East, at 3.10 a.m., on the 15th. The planet will 

 be at its greatest brilliancy on the 22nd, and its angular 

 distance from the Sun will continue. to increase until it reaches 

 greatest westerly elon.gation, on November 26th. 



M.\Rs:— 



Mars is now approaching opposition (November 25thl, and 

 will be well placed for observation during the later hours of 

 the evening. The planet rises N.E. by E.. about eight p.m.. 

 at the beginning, and about six p.m. towards the end, of the 

 month. Its apparent diameter increases during the month 

 from 14"- 1 tol7"-5. The planet will be easily identified if 

 looUed for about five degrees to the North of Aldebaran. The 

 South pole of the planet is turned towards the earth. 



Jupiter : — 



Jupiter is nominally an evening star throughout the month, 

 but he is very low down in the Sonth-Western sky at sunset, 

 and as he sets about an hour after the sun, he can only be 

 observed with difficulty. 



The configuration of the Satellites as seen in an inverting 

 telescope, and observing at six p.m., are as follows : — 



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