iG4 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[Jriv, 1905. 



The Folcc of the Sky 

 for July. 



By \V. Shackleton, F. R.A.S. 



The Sux. — On the ist the Sun rises at 3.^8, and sets at 

 ■S.18 ; on the 31st he rises at i.23, and sets at 7.49. 



The earth is at its greatest distance from the Sun on 

 the 3rd, when the apparent diameter of the Sun is a 

 minimum, being 31' 3o"-7. 



Solar activity is well shown by the large number of 

 sunspots and bright prominences. 



The position of the Sun's axis and equator, re(]uireJ for 

 physical observations of the Sun, is indicated in the fol- 

 lowin'' table :^ 



OccuLTATioNS. — There are no stars brighter than the 

 fith magnitude occulted during this month, as seen from 

 Greenwich. 



The Planets. — Mercury is an evening star in Gemini 

 and Cancer, but is not favourably situated for observation 

 during the early part of the month ; towards the end of 

 the month he is approaching an eastern elongation from 

 the Sun, but even then he only sets one hour after 

 sunset. 



Venus is a bright object in the morning sky, looking 

 east, rising about i.io a.m. on the 15th; as seen in the 

 telescope the phase appears that of " half moon," the 

 apparent diameter of the disc being 22". Towards the 

 end of the month the planet is skirting the northern 

 boundary of the Hyades. 



Mars is on the meridian just before sunset, but on 

 account of increasing distance from the earth his lustre 

 is diminishing. The planet is not well placed for obser- 

 vation on account of his great southerly declination, and 

 as this is increasing his meridian altitude is becoining 

 less. The apparent diameter of the planet is 12" and 

 the disc is slightly gibbov.s, o-SS being illuminated. f)n 

 the 15th the planet sets about 1 1.35 p.m. 



Jupiter is a morning star in Taurus, and is situated a 

 few degrees south of the Pleiades; on the 22nd he rises 

 about midnight. On the 3rd and 4th, Jupiter and N'enus 

 will form a brilliant pair in the morning sky, being less 

 than 3 apart, Jupiter being to the noith. The apparent 

 polar diameter of the planet is 33". 



Saturn is coming mto a more suitable position for ob- 

 servation m the evenings; he rises about 10.50 p.m. on 

 the ist and about 8.40 p.m. on the 31st. Near the 

 middle of the month the planet is on the meridian about 

 2.40 am.; he is describing a short retrograde path near 

 cr Aquarii. 



We are looking down on the northern surface of the 

 ring at an angle of 9", and the apparent diameters of the 

 outer major and minor axes are 43" and b"-^ respectively, 

 whilst the polar diameter of the ball is i7"-o. 



Uranus is becoming more favourably situated for ob- 

 servation at convenient times, being on the meridian 

 about 10.30 p.m. on the 15th. Me is situated about 2^' 

 south of 41 h magnitude star m Sagittarii, and can easily 

 be seen with an opera glass, though somewhat difficult to 

 see with the naked eye. 



Neptune is out of range for observation. 



Meteors. — The most conspicuous shower is the * Aqua- 

 rids, which occurs on the 28th ; they are slow moving 

 and long. The radiant is situated in R..^. XXll.'' 6"", 

 Dec. S. II'. 



Telescopic Objects : — 



Double Stars. — 5 Serpentis, .W.'^ 13'", N 

 mags. 5-1, 10; separation 10". 



/i Serpentis, XV.'' 41™, N. 15" 44', mags, 

 separation 31". 



e Serpentis, X\'III.'' 51'", N. 4° 4', mags, 

 separation 2i"-6. Both are yellow, the priinary being of 

 a paler yellow than the smaller star. 



t Cephei XXII.'' i"", N. 64° 8', mags. 4-7, 7; separa- 

 tion 6". 



S Cephei XXII.'' 26"', N. 57'^ 56 , mags. 4-2, 7; sepa- 

 ration 40". A pretty pair for small telescopes, yellow 

 and blue. It is also a variable star; period 5'' g"", with a 

 quick rise to maximum in i"" 9I1. 



Clusters. — M5 (Libra). A compact cluster situated 

 about one-third of a degree north of the double star 

 5 Serpentis; when seen through a pair of opera glasses 

 it appears like a large nebulous star. 



N.G.C. Oi(>ii- Cluster in Serpens. About one-third 

 of the way between 9 Serpentis and a Ophiuchi (visible 

 to the naked eye). 



2° 13', 

 3-8, 10; 

 4-0, 4-2; 



New Preservative for Animal Products. 



Mr. Fletcher, chemist and analyst of .Sydney. Xcw 

 South Wales, has during recent years introduced a new 

 process for preserving meats and other organic sub- 

 stances. The food products are placed in an airtight 

 chamber, and treated by a gas for six or eight hours. 

 Xo liquids or solids come into actual contact with the 

 meat. .An unskilled workm;m can operate the chamber, 

 and the cost is said to be very small. It is further 

 .illeged that no ta.stc from the curing prwess has yet 

 been noticed, and no analyst has discovered any pre- 

 servative whatever in the goods cured. Beef up to 

 the present has not been cured satisfactorily, and the 

 process is not effcctu.'il with fruit or milk, hut success 

 is claimed for the treatment of mutton, bacon, 

 sausages, &c. The treatment is simple and rapid. No 

 freezing is necessary, and no borax or kindred preser- 

 vatives, and it is staled that food after treatment can 

 he shipped in safety and remain in a fresh condition 

 during franspf.rf. Since the latter part of 1902 it is 

 staled that the process has been tested continuou.sly, 

 and that meat, sausages, kc. cured by it in April, 1903, 

 arc still .sound ;md good. 



