THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR DECEMBER. 



]w w. sh.\cklI':t()N. f.k..\.s.. a.k.c.s. 



The SfN. — On the 1st the Sun rises at 7.44 ,aid sets at 

 3.54; on the 31st he rises at S.S and sets at 3. 58. The 

 equation of time on the 25th at noon is only 13 seconds, and 

 for ordinary purposes is negligible. Winter commences on 

 the 22nd, when the sun enters the sign of Capricorn at 

 10,54 p,m. ; this is the shortest day, the Sun rising at S.5 and 

 setting at 3.51. Sunspots and faculae may usually be 

 observed on the solar disc, though of late Spots have been 

 rather small. The positions of the Sun's axis, centre of the 

 disc, and heliographic longitude of the centre are gi\en 

 below : — 



THE l'L.-\NETS. 



The Moon : — 



OccULTATION'S. — Particulars of the principal occultations 

 i'isible in this country are given in the table below : — 



Mercury is an evening star in Sagittarius setting about 5 p.m, 

 from the 10th to the 20th, but unfavourably placed for 

 observation. The planet is at greatest easterly elongation 

 from the Sun of 20 ' 58' on the 7th, whilst on the 16th he is 

 stationary, after which he describes a retrograde path, and is 

 in inferior conjunction with the Sun on the 25th. 



Venus is a morning star first in Virgo, then in Libra ; she 

 rises in the E,S.E, at 3,15 a.m. on the 1st, and at 4.21 a.m. 

 on the 31st, As seen in the telescope the planet appears 

 gibbous, 0-6 of the disc being illuminated ; the apparent 

 diameter of the planet is 20", 



M.\RS : — 



Mars is a very conspicuous object in the S,E. portion of the 

 bUy at sunset: he appears as a bright reddish star about 3^ 

 South of the Pleiades, where he is describing a short retrograde 

 path ; the planet is at the stationary point on the 29th, 



On the 1st he is due South at 11.9 p.m„ on the 15th at 9,57 

 p.m., and on the 31st at 8.49 p.m.; he remains above the 

 horizon till the early hours of the morning. 



The latitude of the planet's centre is —13°, hence the South 

 Polar Cap is visible. The time of rotation is 24'' 37"" 22''-65, 

 which is equivalent to 14^-62 per hour, and the time of transit 

 of the Zero Meridian of the planet is as follows : — 



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