JUPITER. By M J. Birmingham, Jan. 1872. S. N. By MT H. Pratt, Jan 6th 1872,10h. VENUS a N By M H. Pratt Jan. 29th 1870.5h. Through the middle of the equatorial zone ran a narrow paler band, distinguished not only by its tint, but by its freedom from the mottling which extended over all the darker parts af the zone one either side. On the southern margin of the equatorial zone, a few oval white spots were very conspicuous, the spaces between them deepening in tint in proportion to nearness to the southern white belt. The oval white spots appeared nearly detached from the white belt, and their edges were softened. The S. margin of the northern white belt was extended in four places over the equatorial zone, each having a soft cloudy aspect, and slanting N.E. and S. W. Faint shading between these was visible on the N. white belt, while its S. margin was traceable as a dark line in the interspaces. The northern white belt was divided its whole length by the darkest of all the belts, slightly widened on the E. The southern white belt was a grand mass of overlapping cloud-like streaks, which can better be understood from the sketch. On its eastern part, just coming into view, was a dusky marking, its western end having an oval outline. Two dusky oblique streaks were easy features, and on close examination they were found connected with a ramification of others. The tints of the various parts of the disc came out finely, and the N. white belt appeared slightly tinted with yellowish, as compared with the great S. belt and the cumuli-like shapes on the border, which appeared intensely white. Telescope equatorial, 8 With spec. Powers, 304 and 450. 18, Preston Street, Brighton : Jan. 16, 1872. Yours faithfully, HENRY PRATT. MARKINGS ON VENUS. Sir, The interesting discussion respecting the markings on Venus, which took place at the recent meeting of the R.A.S., and a letter upon the subject, which appeared soon afterwards in the English Mechanic, from Mr. Birt, remind me that I have been wanting in duty by omitting to record in the pages of the Astronomical Register an observation which may be interesting to others although now months old. The delay has been occasioned partly by pressure of my duties and partly from the idea that probably others would describe it. But, as I have met with no published notes of a simultaneous observation, I hasten to atone. On January 29, 1870, 5h. aefinition was very fine and Venus exceedingly white. Both cusps very thin and sharp. The first feature which attracted my attention was a tooth of light near the S. cusp (a), evidently a spot on the terminator higher than the adjacent regions. It was rendered the more conspicuous by an indentation on one side close to its base (b). Other indentations of the terminator were easily seen, one near the equator (c), another nearly halfway between this and the northern cusp (d). Some delicate shadings were also visible. sketch was made with the assistance of cross webs, Powers 180 and 270; 90 was insufficient. Telescope 83 equatorial With spec. The observation was repeated but not so easily, as the planet showed a slight colour on January 1, 1870, 5h. 10m. 18, Preston Street, Brighton : Jan. 16, 1872. Yours truly, The HENRY PRATT. E URSE MAJORIS. Sir,- Ursa Majoris is now nearly at its periastre, and deserves the especial attention of observers. There were no observations made at its last periastre, in fact none between the years 1804 and 1825. The angular change is at present very rapid, being nearly at the rate of 1° per month. The distance is a little more than 1". Temple Observatory; Rugby. J. M. WILSON. OCCULTATION OF VESTA. Sir, Thanks to Mr. Hind's timely announcement, as quoted in the pages of the Astronomical Register, I was enabled to observe, on the beautifully clear night of Saturday, December 30th, the emergence from occultation, at 11.54 p.m., G. M. T., of the little planet Vesta. It emerged from behind the moon opposite some rugged lunar scenery on the Terminator, a little to the north of the striking crater Theophilus, which latter was seen in great beauty at that period of the present lunation. O.G. 3-in., power 120. I remain, Sir, yours very faithfully, East Tisted Rectory, Alton, Hants : January 1, 1872. FRED. HOWLETT. OCCULTATION OF VESTA-DARK TRANSIT ON JUIPTER, &c. Sir, I have to thank Mr. Buffham for his answer in No. 109, page 14, to my letter in the November Register, as to whether high or low powers are best suited for viewing faint stars, though I am sorry to say that my mental vision is not powerful enough clearly to define the whole "drift " of his letter. As regards the occultation of Vesta on the 30th of last month, I was glad to view this asteroid directly after its emersion, through a small refractor of only 23-inches (the night not being sufficiently fine for me to get out my equatorial), but with this small O. G. I failed (as anticipated) to see the immersion of Vesta. On the same night I had a fine view of the transit of Jupiter's fourth satellite as a dark spot, I thought at first it must be a shadow, but on referring to the N. A. found otherwise. This transit was in fact distinctly seen as a dark spot (at least two-thirds as black as a shadow), and after an interval of more than 40 minutes from its immersion. I was rather surprised to see this phenomenon so clearly through so small an instrument, but perhaps it is not uncommon. Clouds soon afterwards" eclipsed Jupiter, so that I could not watch this interesting transit any longer. St. Aubin's Lodge, I remain, yours faithfully, Downs' Park Road, Hackney : W. L. LANČASTER. Jan. 20, 1872. 45 LUNAR OBJECTS SUITABLE FOR OBSERVATION IN Supplement Day. Midnight. II 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ... ... ... ... ... 140 45'2 128 91 81 54'6 71 60 14'9 49 28.5 38 38:3 27 40'7 16 330 5 137 Palitzsch, Hase, Frauenhofer. Mt. Caucasus, Area IV. A eta Outline Map. Mare Imbrium, the ridges on it (c). For additional objects consult the lists for October and December. Should any objects not be in sunlight they may be looked for on the following evening. LINNE.-Seeing that the transits of both terminators, evening and morning, over Linné are given on page 21 of the January number, and which will be extremely useful if continued, we may hope that when this interesting object is in sight on the terminator, advantage will be taken to examine it rigidly; it would tend greatly to advance our knowledge, and perhaps throw some light on the vexed questions concerning it, if observers were at once to publish their observations. See Vol. 9, pp. 82 and 234. LUNAR TINTS.-As it is quite possible to determine by estimation the variation of Lunar Tints, it is recommended that a given surface of small dimensions should be compared from night to night with a neighbouring surface, the north of Julius Cæsar, for example, with Boscovich. An arbitrary scale may in the first instance be employed for this purpose. See article on Lunar Meteorology, on p. 22 of the January number. (a) See note (a) in the September list, the crater on the S.E. of Janssen has been named LOCKYER. (b) Mr. Neison is still engaged in this interesting region. We would particularly solicit attention to a fine valley extending from a region just east of the group to the Apennines which Mr. Neison has pointed out; it is well seen as the terminator passes it, but is soon lost as the sun rises above it. The plain to the west of Pallas has been designated MURCHISON, commemorative of the late distinguished geologist. (c) The systems of ridges on the Maria have not received the attention they deserve since the time of Schröter. They form interesting subjects of study. (d) In the spring of last year, Mr. Whitley, of Truro, called attention to certain crater chains near Bullialdus, it is desirable that the locality should be carefully scrutinised. (e) The aspect of these plains under a high light demands attention: clefts and minute craters should be looked for especially with large instruments. The following objects constitute a zone, which with those given in the January list, may be observed between New Moon and the coming into sunlight of the magnificent zone characterised by Laugrenus, Vendelinus, Pitavius, and Furnerius. Subsequent to the 19th they will be west of their mean places, and may be observed with increased foreshortening as the evening terminator passes over them after the time of full moon. Mare Humboldtianum, Mercurius, Berosus, Hahn, Oriani, Schubert, Lapeycouse, Phillips,* Legendre, Adams,† Mare Australe. * Adjoining Wilhelm Humboldt on the east. + South of Legendre. Errata. November 22, for Uckert, read Ukert. January list, last line but two, for Käshrer, read Kästner. In last line but one dele comma between Wilhelm and Humboldt. In article on Lunar Meteorology, p. 23, line 31, for gradation of that, read gradation of tint. Same article, p. 23, last line but one, for differences, read differently. In Report of the Hackney Scientific Association, Appendix, p.3, line 26, for Philip, read Phillips. Last line but three, insert a period () after "named." Commence a new sentence with "Up," and insert in the next line the word "was," between moon and treated. |