Moons

Vertex

Limb

This eclipse will be remarkable for the very minute portion of it, that will be visible to the British Isles; at Greenwich, only 1-58th part of the solar diameter will be obscured. It will be considerable to a great portion of North and South America.

The following were the observations at Deptford, of the Lunar Eclipse of 26th February last. (See T. T. Ast. Occ. February, 1831).

The moon's upper limb was indistinctly perceived at 5 hrs. 45 min. clock time, above a low bank of clouds, over which was diffused a slight blue haze. 5 hrs. 55 min. the shadow of the earth quite clear of Mare Crisium, and Mare Humorum: the eclipsed part of the disc was not visible. 6 hrs. 5 min. the shadow passed

the centre of Tycho, and the northern part of Mare Fecunditatis. 6 hrs. 10 min. the eclipsed limb dully visible, and of a neutral color; the edge of the shadow more defined than when first observed, and the penumbra, about the breadth of Mare Crisium. 6 hrs. 15 min. the shadow passed through the southern part of Mare Fecunditatis. 6 hrs. 25 min. the defined edge of the shadow left the moon; the penumbra lingered for several minutes afterwards, and exhibited a dull appearance on the western limb. A halo of unusual brilliancy surrounded the moon at 9 hrs. There will be no lunar eclipse in the present year.

LUNAR PHENOMENA.

Phases of the Moon.

First Quarter, 4th day at 33 min. after 11 night.

Conjunctions of the Moon with the Planets and Stars.

PHENOMENA PLANETARUM.

Mercury, in his superior conjunction with the sun at 15 min. after 8 of the morning of the 3d of this month. Greatest north latitude on the 9th. In conjunction with Regulus at 10 in the evening of the 27th, difference of latitude 15'.

Venus, in her superior conjunction at 45 min. after 8 of the morning of the 27th. In perihelion on the 30th. Phases of Venus.

The following are the proportions of the light and dark phases of Venus:

July 1st.-Illuminated disc = 11.907

Dark part ... = 0.093

....

Mars in conjunction with o in Pisces, at 8 in the morning of the 9th.

The Asteroids.

Hrs. Min.

Vesta, 3d day. Right Ascension 10 15. N. Declin. 16° 29′

Jupiter stationary on the 17th.

Eclipses of the Satellites of Jupiter.

IMMERSIONS.

First Satellite, 7th day at 10 min. 47 sec. after 2 morning

22d...... 27

....

midnight 2 morning

1

10 night

EMERSION.

Third Satellite, 26th day at 45 min. 2 sec. after 1 morning.

IMMERSION.

Fourth Satellite, 10th day at 29 min. 13 sec. after midnight.

FORM OF SATURN'S RING.

July 19th.-Semi-transverse axis

Semi-conjugate axis

37".96

2.69

Uranus in nearly the same position as last month.
Sphere of the Fixed Stars.

Positions of the principal constellations, at 11 in the evening of the 1st of the month.

On the meridian. Scorpio near the southern horizon: Above Scorpio are Serpens, Ophiuchus, Hercules, and the head of Draco in the Zenith. North of the Zenith are Tarandus, Custos Messium, Camelopardalis, and Auriga; the latter in the horizon.

Perseus, N. N. E. Andromeda, N.E. Pegasus, E. by N. Cassiopeia, N.E. by N. Cygnus, East. Lyra, Delphinus, Equuleus and Aquarius, E. S. E. Aquila, Antinous, and the head of Capricornus, S. E. by E. Taurus Poniatowski, Scutum Sobieski and Sagittarius, S.S. E. Leo and Leo minor, W. N. W., above which is Ursa Major. Coma Berenices, West. Boötes and Virgo, W. S. W. Corona Borealis, Serpens and Libra, S.S.W.

Telescopic Objects.

Libra. In this zodiacal constellation, a, and are double stars, the largest of is white, and the small star dusky red. is a triple star,-with inferior telescopes this appears only a double star, the largest of which is very white; this is, however, itself a double

star. ε is a beautiful double-double star, or a double star, each star being itself a double star; the first set consists of stars that are very unequal, the largest is white, and the smallest reddish; the second set are white and equal.

North of 8 is a nebula.

K is supposed to be a variable star.

Scorpio. In this constellation ẞ and v are double stars; near is a multiple star; near to the red star Antares is a mass of small stars; σ and 19 point to a nebula. In this constellation are some remarkable nebulæ, two of which are like comets, with brilliant centres. Scorpio is on the borders of the Via Lactea, which Herschel considered, as a very extensive branching congeries of many millions of stars; that probably it owes its origin to several remarkably large, as well as pretty closely scattered small stars, that may have drawn together the rest; also that there are many parts of the Via Lactea where the stars are drawing towards secondary centres, and may, in time, separate into different clusters. He also imagined, that there are some portions of the Via Lactea which have suffered greater ravages than others, and particularly that part of it in the body of Scorpio, where there is a large opening or hole, about four degrees broad, which is almost destitute of stars; and that the stars which once filled this vacancy is a rich cluster of small stars, just upon the western border of the opening.