ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR MAY, i8Si. 27 



same patient attention to details which have 'marked all the works of the great- 

 est naturalist of our time. A theory is worth little until it becomes a natural in- 

 ference from known facts ; and the best models of the investigations which fur- 

 nish these facts have been given us by Mr. Darwin. Hence the superior vitality 

 of " Darwinism" as compared with all other theories of the origin of species. — 



\The Dial. 



ASTRONOMY. 



ASTRONOMICAL NOTES FOR MAY, 1881. 



BY W. W. ALEXANDER, KANSAS CITY. 



The planets Jupiter and Saturn are in such close proximity to the sun that a 

 favorable view of them cannot be obtained this month. As they are the most pic- 

 turesque objects in this solar system, their absence causes a slight void in celes- 

 tial scenery. 



Venus, after the loth, may be seen by morning observers rising a few min- 

 utes before the sun, and by the end of the month its position will be more favor- 

 able, rising at that time i h., 40 min. before the sun. 



Mars is gradually approaching the earth and increasing in apparent " size 

 and brilliancy," but it will be some months yet before it will be at its nearest 

 point, and in the best position for observing; during the month it will be seen by 

 morning observers rising on the first at 2 h., 5 min., a. m. , and on the 31st at i 

 h., 4 min., a. m. 



Uranus will be favorably situated for observation this month, being in con- 

 stellation Leo. It is visible to the naked eye when the moon is absent. Its po- 

 sition is east and south of Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. 



The moon will partially eclipse the sun on the 27th, first contact occuring at 

 6 h., 42 min., p. m. The eclipse will continue from that time until sunset, the 

 northern limb being covered by the moon in amount equal to about . i of the en- 

 tire disc of the sun. 



Position of the constellation and stars on the 15th at 8 h. , 30 min., p. m. 

 Ursa Major is a few degrees north of the zenith, and Cassiopea is on the northern 

 horizon. Castor and Pollux are visible in the northwest at a considerable altitude, 

 and Procion in the west about an hour and a half above the horizon. 



Virgo is now about an hour east of the meridian, and half way from the zen- 

 ith to the horizon. It contains the bright star Spica. 



Scorpius, the scorpion, is just rising in the southeast. 



Coma Berenices is now exactly on the meridian, and about 10° south of the 

 zenith. It is a group of very small stars, quite different from anything else in 

 the heavens. 



