[ 379 ] 



XXXIX. 



NOTE ON THE CONJUNCTION OF SATURN AND MAES 

 ON 19th SEPTEMBER, 1889. By ARTHUR A. 

 RAMBAUT, M.A. 



[Read November 20, 1889.] 



0> the morning of the 19th September, although there were large 

 masses of clouds scattered over the sky which more than once seemed 

 about to hide all, yet the region of the sky containing the bright 

 stars, Regulus, Saturn, and Mars, remained unobscured until within 

 a few minutes of sunrise. 



At about half-past three, mean Dublin time, the group rose 

 above the mists of the horizon sufficiently to be well seen ; and at 

 this time the two planets presented very much the appearance of 

 Tauri, which was then high in the heavens. Perhaps the 

 most striking feature at about this time was the insignificant 

 appearance of the planets themselves. Unconsciously one was 

 inclined to expect that Mars would present the brilliant aspect 

 with which we are familiar at opposition, whereas Mars, Saturn, 

 and Regulus, all appeared of nearly the same brightness. In 

 this respect Venus, which stood a few degrees above and to the 

 south, presented a remarkable contrast, being much more on a 

 level with the waning moon which, in the shape of a thin 

 crescent, hung a little way above. 



The comparative faintness of Mars was, of course, due to 

 its being not very far from conjunction with the sun, and 

 in consequence nearly at its greatest distance at the time. 



