64 Star anfc Meatber Gossip 



STARS WITH LOW ALTITUDES 



The subject of the visibility of stars at unusually 

 low altitudes, Mr. E. W. Barlow informs me, has been 

 suggested to him by some remarks in my Night-Skies 

 of a Year. At Bournemouth, it seems, they are occa- 

 sionally favoured with marvellous skies. Here are 

 some of Mr. Barlow's notable observations, made from, 

 approximately, north latitude 50 degrees 43 minutes 

 13 seconds. 



July 18, 1911, 10.40 p.m. Saw Epsilon Sagittarii 

 (mag. 2) with naked eye (South Dec. 34J degrees). 

 With opera-glass plainly saw Eta Sagittarii (South 

 Dec. 36 degrees 45 minutes ; altitude above sea 

 horizon 2J degrees). 



July 22, 10.30 p.m. Saw Lambda and Upsilon 

 Scorpii with opera-glass, one hour and 20 minutes 

 past the meridian. As the meridian altitudes are 

 only 2 degrees 15 minutes and 2 degrees 4 minutes 

 respectively, at this time they cannot have been 

 more than one degree and J a degree respectively 

 above the horizon. At 10.45 Lambda still visible. 



August 31. A most extraordinarily brilliant 

 night. Earth-light obvious to sight at 11.0 p.m. 

 (I have a note that Vega, Altair, and other bright 

 stars gave the merest suspicion of a twinkle every 

 J or J minute.) I made the remarkable observation 

 with opera-glass of the setting of Delta Sagittarii 

 behind distant cliffs (altitude of top of cliffs 21 

 minutes of arc). The star was followed distinctly, 

 but with great difficulty to within a few seconds of 

 its touching the cliff tops, which were visible by 



