May 1, 1897.] 



KNOWLEDGE 



127 



THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR MAY. 



By Herbert Sadler, F.R.A.S. 



SOME fair-sized groups of sunspots have recently 

 appeared on the Sun's surface. 

 Mercury can be observed as an evening star 

 during the first third of the month. On the 1st 

 he sets at 9h. 31m. p.m., or 2h. 10m. after the 

 Sun, with a northern decHnation of 23° 5', and an apparent 

 diameter of 8^". On the 7th he sets at 9h. 20m. p.m., or 

 Ih. 50m. after the Sun. with a northern declination of 

 23° 4', and an apparent diameter of 10". On the 11th 

 he sets at 9h. p.m., or Ih. 25m. after the Sun, with a 

 northern declination of 22^ 21 , and an apparent diameter 

 of 10|". After this he approaches the Sun too nearly to 

 be visible. He is in inferior conjunction with the Sim on 

 the 20th. While visible he describes a short direct path 

 in Taurus to the north of the Hjades. 



Venus is too near the Sun to be well observed during 

 the first half of the month. On the 21st she rises at 

 2h. 51m. A.M., or about 1^ hours before the Sun, with a 

 northern declination of 11^ 45', and an apparent diameter 

 of 47". On the 31st she rises at 2h. 27m. a.m., or about 

 Ih. 23m. before the Sun, with a northern declination of 

 11° 1', and an apparent diameter of 40 ". While visible 

 she describes a short direct path through a portion of 

 Aries, barren of naked-eye stars. 



Mars can be observed during the first half of the month, 

 but he is rapidly becoming a very insignificant object for 

 telescopic scrutiny. On the 1st he sets at Ih. 11m. a.m., 

 with a northern decHnation of 23^ .88', and an apparent 

 diameter of Sj", the phasis amounting ^". On the 14th 

 he sets at Oh. 40m. a.m., with a northern declination of 

 22° 14', and an apparent diameter of 5}". During this 

 time he pursues a direct path in Gemini to the borders of 

 Cancer. 



Jupiter is an evening star, setting on the 1st at 2h. 43m. 

 A.M., with a northern declination of 12° 33', and an 

 apparent equatorial diameter of 40'', the phasis on the / 

 limb amounting to }''. On the 13th he sets at Ih. 50m. 

 A.M., with a northern declination of 12° 20', and an 

 apparent diameter of 38i". On the 31st he sets at 

 Oh. 48m. A.M., with a northern declination of 11° 50', and 

 an apparent equatorial diameter of 36|". During May he 

 describes a short direct path in Leo, somewhat to the east 

 of Regulus. 



Saturn is an evening star, rising on the 1st at 8h. 37m. 

 P.M., with a southern declination of 17^ 39', and an 

 apparent equatorial diameter of 18' (the major axis of the 

 ring being 43 " in diameter and the minor 17j ). On the 

 ISth he rises at 7h. oGm. p.m., with a southern declination 

 of 17° 2(3', and a diameter of 18". On the 31st he rises 

 at Gh. 27m. p.m., with a southern declination of 17° 11', 

 and an apparent diameter of 18". During the month he 

 pursues a retrograde path in Libra. He is in opposition 

 on the 18th. 



Uranus is an evening star, but is even worse placed for 

 observation in these latitudes than Saturn is. On the 1st 

 he rises at 8h. 41m. p.m., with a southern declination of 

 19° 26', and an apparent diameter of 8-8 ". On the 31st 

 he rises at 6h. 36m. p.m., and souths at lOh. 58m. p.m., 

 with a southern declination of 19 9', and an apparent 

 diameter of 3-8 ". During May he describes a short 

 retrograde path in Scorpio, not far from /3 Scorpionis. 



Neptune is practically invisible. 



There are no very well marked showers of shooting stars 

 in May. 



The Moon is new at 8h. 46m. p.m. on the 1st ; enters 

 her first quarter at 9h. 37m. p.m. on the 9th ; is full at 

 Ih. 54m. P.M. on the 16th ; enters her last quarter at 

 9h. 34m. a.m. on the 23rd ; and is new again at Oh. 26m. 

 P.M. on the 31st. 



(!Bt)fSS Column. 



By C. D. LocooK, B.A.Oxon. 



Commimications for this column should be addressed to 

 0. D. LococK, Burwash, Sussex, and posted on or before 

 the 10th of each month. 



Solutions of April Prollems. 



No. 1. 



(By P. H. Williams.) 



Key-move. — 1. K to Q2. 



If 1. ... K to B3, 2. Kt to B3. 

 1. ... K to K4, 2. QxP. 



No. 2. 



(By A. C. Challenger.) 



1. R to KB3, and mates next move. 



Correct Solutions of both problems received from 

 Alpha, W. J. Ashdown, F. Wilhelmy, E. W. Brook, 

 H. H. Thomas, Captain Fordo, J. T. Blakemore. 



Of No. 2 only from G. G. Beazley, A. P. Hyatt, W. H. 

 Lunn, W. Clugston, J. M'Robert. 



Rev. F. W. Quilter, D.B. — Your solutions last month 

 were quite correct, but a week too late to acknowledge. 



H. D'O. Bernard. — The sacrifice offered in your game has 

 the merit of soundness, usually absent from this parti- 

 cular sacrifice ; but it occurs so often that there would be 

 little use in publishing it. Why 11. QKtSch .' PxKt, 

 threatening to win a Pawn by the check, and to Castle 

 QR would give White a most desirable open file. 



W. J. Ashdinrn. — 'Moa. '2 and 

 the better key -moves. 



are selected as having 



PROBLEMS. 



By W. J. Ashdown. 



No. 1. 



BciCK (.5). 





i fm. 



White (13). 



White mates in two moves. 



