January 2, 1899.] 



KNOWLEDGE 



23 



THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR JANUARY. 



By A. Fo^\'LER, F.R.A.S. 



THE SUN. — Although solar activity ia probably on 

 the wane, observations should by no means be 

 discontinued. Even in the absence of spots, 

 faculiP may frequently be observed. 

 There will be a partial eclipse of the Sun (greatest 

 magnitude — 0-7) on the 11th, but as it will only be 

 visible in the region of the North Pacific, further par- 

 ticulars are not considered necessary. 



The Moon.— The Moon will enter her last quarter on 

 the Sth, at 3.22 a.m.; will be new on the 11th at 

 10.50 P.M. ; enter her first quarter on the 18th at 1.36 p.m. ; 

 and will be full on the 26th, at 7.84 p.m. Of the various 

 occultations during the month, the most conveniently 

 observable is that of ,a Arietis, mag. 58, which will occur 

 on the 19th ; the disappearance will take place at 8.5 p.m., 

 45° from the north point (22= from the vertex), and the 

 reappearance at 9.14 p.m., 282° from the north point (248° 

 from the vertex), the position angles being reckoned 

 through east. 



The Planets. — Passing from his recent inferior con- 

 junction, Mercury will arrive at his greatest western 

 elongation of 28° 35' on the 12th. He will accordingly 

 be a morning star throughout the month, but his great 

 southerly declination, which amounts to 22° on the 12th, 

 makes the planet too low for easy observation in our 

 latitudes. 



Venus ia also a morning star, and will attain her 

 greatest brilliancy ou the 6th ; she will then be about 16° 

 south of the equator, but will be a conspicuous object in 

 the morning sky, rising about three hoars before the Sun. 

 About one-third of the disc will be illuminated. 



Mars will be in opposition at midnight on the 18th, so 

 that the present month will furnish the most favourable 

 opportunity of observing the planet that we shall have for 

 several years. Unfortunately, he is in the part of his 

 orbit furthest removed from the Sun, so that his disc will 

 not be very large. His distance at the present opposition, 

 as compared with that at other oppositions, is illustrated 

 in the accompanying diagram. At the time of opposition, 

 his horizontal parallax will be IS-O", representing a 



1396 



1901 



1888 



1894. 



/PERIHELION 



.^1892 



1890 



Oppositions of Mars. 



distance of about 143 millions of miles. The apparent 

 diameter of the planet will then be 14-4", but for observers 

 in northern latitudes the northerly declination of the 



planet will partly compensate for the smallneaa of the 

 disc. The north pole of the planet is tilted towards the 

 earth. During the month he describes a westward or 

 retrograde path through Cancer towards Gemini. 



Jupiter is a morning star, and will be at quadrature on 

 the 29th. During the month he describes a short direct 

 path in the preceding part of Libra, rising about 3 a.m. at 

 the beginning, and before 1 a.m. towards the end of the 

 month. 



Saturn is also a morning star. He describes a short 

 eastward part in the southern part of Ophiuchus, and does 

 not rise very much before the Sun until the end of the 

 month, when he rises about three hours before the Sun. 



Uranus is a morning star, rising about four hours before 

 the Sun towards the end of the month. He traverses a 

 short direct path near v|/ Ophiuchi. 



Neptune describes an eastward path of 80', starting 

 from a point about 1° north-east of ? Tauri. He ia visible 

 throughout the night. 



The St.\rs.— At the beginning of the month Canis 

 Major will be due south about midnight, Orion about 

 11 P.M., Taurus about 10 p.m., and Aries about 8 p.m. 

 These constellations will be iu the same positions roughly 

 half-an-hour earlier at the end of each succeeding week. 



Conveniently observable minima of Algol will occur on 

 the 2nd at 7.14 p.m. ; on the 22nd at 8.57 p.m. ; and on 

 the 25th at 5.46 p.m. 



By 0. D. 



Column. 



LOOOOE, B.A 



Communications for this column should be addressed to 

 C. D. LooooK, Netherfield, Camberley, and posted on or 

 before the 10th of each month. 



Solutions of December Problems. 



No. 1. 



(By F. W. Andrew.) 



1. B to Kt8, and mates next move. 



No. 2. 

 (By N. E. Meares.) 



Key-move — 1. PxPch. 

 If 1. . . . K to Q4, 2. Castles (QK)ch. 

 1. ... K to Q2, 2. R to Qsqch. 

 1. . . . KxP, 2. Castles (KR)ch. 



Correct Solutions of both problems received from D. 

 R. Potheringham, W. de P. Crousaz, H. Le Jeune, H. 

 E. Gardner. 



Of No. 1 only, from Alpha, W. Clugston, J. M'Robert, 

 G. G. Beazley, J. G. Sheakston, G. F. T., G. C. Teddington, 

 W. H. Stead. 



H. E. Gardner. — We are glad to see that the sui-mate 

 has found a solver and an appreciator. 



Q, F. T. — See answer to Alpha below. 



H. S. Bnnidreth.—U 1. B to Q6, Kt to B3, and the 

 Queen would like to mate at Q7. See also reply to Alpha. 



Alpha, and otherx. — After 1. P x Pch, K to Q2, 2. Castles 

 ch •?, K to QB2, White's QB is pinned. This, of course, 

 is part of the composer's idea. In the three variations, 

 White castles on both sides, and also moves his R to Q 

 square. The composer informs us that he tried in vain to 

 add a fourth variation to consist of " half-castling " on the 

 King's side. 



J. G. >:lieakston. — When the King goes to Q4, White 

 must castle. For after 2. R to Qsq ch, KxKt, the Queen 



