June 1, 1897. 



KNOWLEDGE 



151 



THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR JUNE. 



M' 



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



'EKCURY is too near the Sun during the first 

 third of the month for convenient observation 

 by the amateur. On the 16th he rises at 

 2h. 50m. A.M., with a northern declination of 

 17' 21', and an apparent diameter of 8". He is 

 at his greatest western elongation at 6h. a.m. that morning. 

 On the 22nd he rises at 2h. 13m. a.m., with a northern 

 declination of 19° 26', and an apparent diameter of 7". 

 On the 30th he rises at the same time, or about one hour 

 before the Sun, with a northern declination of 22° 17 , and 

 an apparent diameter of 6". While thus imperfectly 

 visible he describes a direct path in Taurus to the borders 

 of Gemini. 



Venus is a morning star, and is well placed for observa- 

 tion in .June. She is at her greatest brilliancy on the 3rd. 

 On the 1st she rises at 2h. 25m. a.m., with a northern 

 declination of ll'^ 2', and an apparent diameter of 39^". 

 On the 10th she rises at 2h. 5m. a.m., with a northern 

 declination of 11" 41', and an apparent diameter of 34J' , 

 about one-third of the disc being illuminated. On the 20th 

 she rises at Ih. 46m. a.m., or just two hours before the Sun, 

 with a northern declination of 13° 20', and an apparent 

 diameter of 29^". On the 30th she rises at Ih. 30m. a.m., 

 or 2h. 15m. before the Sun, with a northern declination of 

 15° 23', and an apparent diameter of 26". During June 

 she describes a direct path through the greater part of 

 Aries into Taurus, without approaching any conspicuous 

 star very closely. 



Mars has practically left us for the year, the tiny disc 

 he now presents exhibiting no features of interest for the 

 purposes of the amateur observer. 



Jupiter can still be observed as an evening star, but 

 should be looked for as soon after simset as possible. 

 On the 1st he sets at Oh. 45m. a.m., with a northern 

 declination of 11° 48', and an apparent equatorial diameter 

 of 36^", the phasis on the f Umb amounting to -^" . On 

 the 10th he sets at Oh. 10m. a.m. , with a northern declination 

 of 11° 25', and an apparent equatorial diameter of 35i". 

 On the 20th he sets at llh. 30m. p.m., with a northern 

 declination of 10° 55', and an apparent equatorial diameter 

 of 34f". On the 30th he sets at lOh. 53m. p.m., with a 

 northern dechnation of 10° 21', and an apparent equatorial 

 diameter of 34", the phasia on the /' limb amounting 

 to /g". During June he describes a short direct path in 

 Leo, to the east of Regulus, being just about 1° north of 

 the fourth magnitude star p Leonis on the evening of the 

 21st. 



Saturn is an evening star, and but for his great southern 

 declination would be well placed for observation. He 

 rises on the 1st at 6h. 20m. p.m., with a southern decli- 

 nation of 17 10', and an apparent equatorial diameter 

 of 18" (the major axis of the ring system being 42|" in 

 diameter, and the minor 17;| "). On the 10th he rises at 

 5h. 36m. P.M., with a southern declination of 17^ 3', and 

 an apparent diameter of 18 '. On the 20th he rises at 

 5h. 3m. p.m., with a southern declination of 16° 64', and an 

 apparent diameter of 17|". On the 30th he rises at 

 4h. 20m. P.M., with a southern declination of 16° 51', and 

 an apparent equatorial diameter of 17^". During June he 

 describes a retrograde path in Libra. 



Uranus is an evening star, but is very badly placed for 

 observation. On the 1st he rises at 6h. 32m. p.m., and 

 souths at lOh. 54m. p.m., with a southern declination of 

 19° 9', and an apparent diameter of 8-7''. On the 30th he 

 rises at 4h. 33m. p.m., and souths at 8h. 56m. p.m., with a 



southern declination of 18° 55'. During the month he 

 describes a short retrograde path in Libra, being about 2° 

 south of Saturn at the end of the month. 



Neptune is in conjunction with the Sun on the 10th. 



There are no well-marked showers of shooting stars in 

 June. 



The Moon enters her first quarter at 7h. 2m. a.m. on 

 the 8th ; is full at 9h. Im. p.m. on the 14th ; enters her 

 last quarter at llh. 24m. p.m. on the 21st ; and is new at 

 2h. 55m. A.M. on the 30th. 



Ct)tss Column. 



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



Communications for this colimin should be addressed to 

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

 the 10th of each month. 



Solutions of May Problems. 



(W. J. Ashdown.) 



No. 1. 



1. Q to Kt7, and mates next move. 



No. 2. 

 1. P to K6, and mates next move. 



[These problems, and especially No. 2, have evidently 

 proved very puzzling. Many have sent 1. K to K6 as the 

 key to No. 2, overlooking the available defence in 1. . . . 

 Q xBP. 1. R to K3 is also a tempting try, met only by 

 1. ... Q to B5. There are duals in both problems.] 



Correct Solutions of both problems received from 

 W. Clugston, H. H. Thomas, J. T. Blakemore, J. H. 

 Ballantine, J. M-Robert, Kappa, A. E. Whitehouse. 



Of No. 1 only from W. H. Lunn, W. H. Brenchley, 

 E. W. Brook, Alpha, A Norseman, Rev. F. W. Quilter, 

 D.D. 



Of No. 2 only from G. G. Beazley. 



W. W. Stead and A Norseman.— L{ 1. R to K3, Q to Bo. 



Sigma. — 1. Q to KB4 is met by 1. ... K to Q5. 



(J. G. Beadey. — If 1. P to B4, Black has many defences. 



H. le Jeune. — See reply to " Sigma." Your solutions 

 last month were too late to acknowledge. 



J. H. Ballantine. — Thanks for the problem, which shall 

 be examined. 



E. W. Brook. — It is a novelty to find you caught 

 tripping. 



ir. B. Flawkim. — After taking the Knight, the Black 

 Knight can interpose at K2 in answer to the Queening of 

 the Pawn. 



W. Cluijston. — Problem received with thanks. Your 

 turn comes next month. A first-class block problem with 

 one dual would probably lose about fifteen per cent, of its 

 marks in a tourney. Li the case of a threat problem, or 

 where the dual is clearly unavoidable ((.<?., without upsetting 

 the entire scheme of the problem) , the deduction would be 

 rather less. There is also a reduction of penalty in the 

 case of repeated duals. For instance, in No. 2 (May 

 Number) the duals after QKt7 and QR8 would not count 

 as much more than one. 



Sentimental Tommie. — Yes, once in May. Your con- 

 tributions are always welcome ; and even the " inferior " 

 one has some good points. 



