January 1, 1898.] 



KNOWLEDGE 



points to note in connection with our present purpose are, 

 firstly, that the " fruit " is only the fertilized oosphere 

 without any accessory or surrounding growths ; and, 

 aecondly, that when this " oospore " germinates it pro- 

 dudes a new plant like that on which it grew. 



THE FACE OF THE SKY FOR JANUARY. 



By Hekmert Sadler, f.k.a.s. 



A FEW small spots may still be occasionally detected 

 on the solar surface. 

 Conveniently observable minima of Algol occur 

 at llh. lOm. P.M. on the 16th, at 8h. 38m. p.m. 

 on the 19th, and at 5h. '27m. p.m. on the 22nd. 



Mercury is in inferior conjunction with the Sun on the 

 6th. During the last third of the month he is visible as a 

 morning star, but under very unfavourable conditions in 

 these latitudes, owing to his great southern declination. 

 On the 21st he rises at 6h. 23m. a.m., or about one hour 

 and a half before the Sun, with a southern declination at 

 noon of 20° 51', and an apparent diameter of 7 J". On the 

 31st he rises at 6h. 2.5m. a.m., or about one hour and a 

 quarter before the Sun, with a southern declination of 

 21'" 47', and an apparent diameter of 6j". He is at his 

 greatest western elongation (25 ) on the 29th. U'hile 

 visible he describes a direct path in Sagittarius without 

 approaching any conspicuous star. 



Venus is too near the Sun to be observed, as is also the 

 case with Mars. 



Ceres is still in an excellent position for observation. 

 She souths on the 1st at llh. 35m. p.m., with a northern 

 declination of 28° 4', her stellar magnitude being about 

 7i". On the 10th she souths at lOh. 40m. p.m., with a 

 northern declination of 28° 87'. On the 20th she souths 

 at 9h. 51m. p.m., with a northern declination of 29° 5 . 

 On the 31st she souths at 9h. 7m. p.m., with a northern 

 declination of 29° 27', her stellar magnitude being about 

 7V. During the month she describes a retrograde path 

 in Auriga. 



•Jupiter is now beginning to be fairly well placed, as 

 regards his times of rising, for the amateur. On the 1st 

 he rises at two minutes before midnight, with a southern 

 declination at noon of 2° 82', and an apparent equatorial 

 diameter of 89 ". On the 11th he rises at llh. 22m. p.m., 

 with a southern declination of 2° 43', and an apparent 

 equatorial diameter of 40 ". On the 21st he rises at 

 lOh. 44m. P.M., with a southern declination of 2° 47', and 

 an apparent equatorial diameter of 40|". On the 31st he 

 rises at lOh. 4m. p.m., with a southern declination of 2° 48', 

 and an apparent equatorial diameter of 41". During the 

 greater part of the month he describes a very short direct 

 path in Virgo, without approaching any conspicuous star. 

 He is stationary on the 25th. 



Both Saturn and Uranus do not rise till long after 

 midnight during the month, and they are both very badly 

 placed for observation in these latitudes. 



Neptune is very well situated for observation, rising on the 

 1st at 2h. 28m. p.m., with a northern declination of 21° 44', 

 and an apparent diameter of 2^". On the 11th he rises 

 at Ih. 48m. p.m., with a northern declination of 21° 48'. 

 On the 21st he rises at lb. 2m. p.m., with a northern 

 declination of 21° 42'. On the 31st he souths at 8h. 32m. 

 p.m., with a northern declination of 21° 42'. During the 

 month he describes a short retrograde path in Taurus, in a 

 region barren of naked-eye stars. 



January is a favourable month for shooting stars, the 

 most noted shower being that of the Quadrantids, the 

 radiant point being in E.A. 19h. 12m. and 53° north 



declination, the greatest display being visible during the 

 morning hours of January 1st to 3rd. 



The Moon is full at Oh. 24m. a.m. on the 8th ; enters 

 her last quarter at 8h. 44m. p.m. on the 15th ; is new 

 at 7h. 25m. a.m. on the 22nd ; and enters her first quarter 

 at 2h. 88m. p.m. on the 29th. Many of the larger stars of 

 the Pleiades will be occulted on the evening of the 3rd. 



There will be a partial eclipse of the Moon on the evening 

 of the 7th and early morning of the 8th. The first con- 

 tact with the penumbra takes place at 9h. 11m. on the 7th ; 

 the first contact with the shadow at lOh. 57m. p.m., at an 

 angle of 169° from the Moon's limb towards the east 

 (viewed for direct image). The middle of the eclipse will 

 occur at llh. 45m. p.m., about iV'o'''^s o' '^^ ^'s<^ being 

 obscured. The last contact with the shadow takes place 

 at thirty-two minutes after midnight on the 7th, at an 

 angle of 143° from the north point of the Moon's limb 

 towards the west. The last contact with the penumbra 

 occurs at 2h. 18m. a.m. on the 8th. There will be a total 

 eclipse of the Sun on the morning of the 22nd, but it will 

 be invisible in the British Islands. 



Ci^css <2Eolttmn, 



By C. D. LooooE, b.a. 



Communications for this column should be addressed to 

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

 the 10th of each month. 



Solutions of December Problems. 



(By W. J. Ashdown.) 



No. 1. 



1. Q to R4, and mates nest move. 



No. 2. 

 1. R to B2, and mates next move. 



Correct Solutions of both problems received from 

 Alpha, J. T. Blakemore, J. M'Eobert, W. de P. Crousaz, 

 J. E. Gore, G. Coules, E. C. Noton. 



Of No. 1 only, from H. H. Thomas, A. H. Doubleday, 

 Capt. Forde, W. Clugston, G. M. Norman. 



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



No less than four solvers gave 1. R to B3 for No. 2, 

 overlooking the reply 1. ... B to KB. The correct key, 

 it will be observed, prevents the dual after 1. . . . B xP. 



H. H. Thomas.— la No. 2, if 1. B to Kt3, Kt to B5 (!), 

 and there is no mate. It is a magnificent " try." 



G. (t. Bfirdry. — If B X P, Black retaliates (ch). 



A. E. WJiitehousr. — In No. 2, BxKt is met by the 

 Queen moving on to the Rook's file. B x KtP in No. 1 

 loses a piece. 



H. S. Bnindieth. — You will have seen that your solution 

 of Mr. Challenger's three-mover was correct ; not so that 

 of Mr. Slater's insidious two-mover. 



ir. Cluijston. — Thanks for the problems, which shall be 

 examined, and if, as we expect, found worthy, receive early 

 publication. 



tr. Couh'n. — Thanks for the three-mover. The only 

 obvious drawback consists in the two " short mates " after 

 two of the King's moves, which look as if they should lead 

 to main variations, and lead, therefore, instead, to dis- 

 appointment. The problem, we think, could be improved 

 by abolishing the two Rooks, and, if possible, utilizing the 

 KB more. 



