THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR \0\-EMBER, 



\V. SH.\CKLETOX, F.R..^.S.. .\.R.C.S. 



The Scn. — On the 1st the Stin rises at 6.54 and set* at 4.33 : 

 on the 30th he rises at 7.43 and sets at 3.54. Sunspots and 

 faculae may usually be seen on the disc, but of late spots have 

 been small, although faculae have been fairly conspicuous. 

 The equation of time is a maximum on the 3rd, the Sun being 

 16°" 20^ in advance of the clock, thus making the afternoons 

 short and the mornings long. The positions of the Sun's axis, 

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

 given in the following table : — 



There is a partial eclipse of the Sun on November 2nd, 

 invisible in this country, but visible in Japan. Xorthern Pacific 

 and Alaska. 



The Moon : — 



Eclipse of the Moon. — There will be a total eclipse of 

 the Moon on the 16th. visible in this country. 



The details and times are as follows : — 



First Contact with the Penum- 

 bra, Nov. 16th, q*" 46" p.m. 



First Contact with the Shadow . 

 Nov. 16th, 10" 44" p.m. 



Beginning of Totalitv, Nii\. 

 16th. 11'' 55"" p.m." 



End of Totalitv. Nov. 17th. 

 12'' 47°' a.m'. 



Last Contact with the Shadow . 

 Nov, 17th. l"" 5S" a.m. 



Last Contact with the Penum- 

 bra, Nov. 17th. 2" 56°" a.m. 



The Magnitude of the Eclipse = 

 1'131 (Moon's Diameter 

 = 1). 



Diagram .-.howing lirst and last con- 

 tacts in tlic total Eclipse of the Moon, 

 Novcniljer i6th. 



During totality observation should be made of the colours 

 of the moon's surface, and also of the varied luminosity of 

 different regions. The general appearance is that of a copper 

 coloured disc, but during the progress of the Eclipse changes 

 of tint may be discerned. 



OCCULT.4TIONS. — The following are the principal occulta- 

 tions visible from Greenwich : — 



The first cont.act with the shadow is at 94° from the North 

 point towards East and the last contact at 227\ as shown 

 below. 



The PL-ANETS. — Mercury (Nov. 1st. K.A. \i^ 58*"; Dec. 

 S. 10° 50'. Dec. 1st. R.A. \1^ 11'": Dec. S. 24=52') is an 

 evening star in Scorpio at the end of the month, setting at 

 4.12 p.m. on the 27th. and is thus very unfa\()nrably placed 

 for observation. 



The planet is in Superior Conjimction with the Snn on 

 the 12th. 



Venus (Nov. 1st. R.A. 14" 1'": Dec. S. IT 5'. Dec. 1st. 

 R.A. 16" 32'"; Dec. S. 21" 48') is in Superior Conjunction 

 with the Sun on 26th. and hence is invisible throughout the 

 whole month, being In close proximity to the Sun. 



Mars (Nov. 1st, R.A. 13" 40"": Dec. S. 9" 44'. Dec. Est, 

 R.A. 14" 58"": Dec. S. 16° 35') is situated in Virgo and rises 

 at 5.40 a.m. on the 15th. thus for all practical purposes the 

 planet is unobservable. 



Jupiter (Nov. 1st, K,A. 13" 45™; Dec. S. 9 42'. Dec. 1st, 

 R.A. 14" 9"": Dec. S. 11° 52') is observable for a very short 

 time before sunrise towards the end of the month. The 

 planet rises at 4.45 a.m. on the 25th. 



.Saturn (Nov. 1st. R.A. 2" 6"'; Dec. N. 9° 50'. Dec. 1st, 

 1" 58'": Dec. N. 9 11') is very favourably placed for 

 observation, being due South on the 1st at 11.24 p.m., and on 

 the 30th at 9.22 p.m. The telescopic view is splendid, as the 

 rings and belts are readily seen even when seeing is com- 

 paratively poor. In addition to the ring, the belts on the 

 disc and also some of the numerous satellites may be observed. 

 .A telescope of three inches aperture is sufficient to show the 

 four larger satellites, namely. Titan, Japetus, Rhea, and 

 Tethys. Titan is generally to be looked for at a considerable 

 distance from Saturn, not only to the sides, but also 

 apparently above and below the planet. 



The di\ ision in the ring may be seen in a good telescope of 

 two inches aperture ; whilst the daik ring requires an aperture 

 of four inches, with good atmospheric conditions. 



445 



