PLANETARY PHENOMENA FOR MARCH AND APRIL, 1923

Abstract

There will be a partial eclipse of the Moon on the evening of March 2 visible throughout the United States. The Moon enters the umbra at 6h28ra p. m., Pacific Time, the middle of the eclipse is at 7h32m, and the Moon leaves the umbra at 8h36m. The shadow will cover about one-third of the Moon's diameter. An annular eclipse of the Sun will occur about noon of March 17, Greenwich Mean Time, that is, before daylight by Pacific Standard Time. The path of the annulus is far to the south, crossing South America and South Africa. No part of this eclipse can be seen in northern latitudes. The Sun passes the Vernal Equinox and spring begins March 21, 7h29m a. m., Pacific time. Mercury is a morning star at the beginning of the period, rising about an hour and one-quarter before sunrise, having passed greatest west elongation on Feb. 22, and is therefore visible in the early morning twilight ; but its apparent distance from the Sun diminishes and the planet will reach superior conjunction on April 8, becoming an evening star. Its distance from the Sun now gradually increases so that by the end of April it has nearly reached greatest east elongation, but the interval between the setting of the Sun and of the planet will not be as much as one hour and one-half until nearly the end of the month. It will be in conjunction with Uranus on March 21, but both planets are then too near the Sun for naked eye view. During April Mercury is considerably brighter than a first magnitude star, but will not be easy to see on account of its nearness to the Sun, until after the middle of the month. Venus remains a morning star, rising on March 1 some-