Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONTH.

THE last month derived its name from decem, ten, and imber: it being the tenth month in the Romulean Calendar.

ASTRONOMICAL OCCURRENCES.

SATURN appears in the south-west after sun-set, and Jupiter in the south-east and south. In the mornings Mars exhibits his ruddy orb a little way above the brilliant planet Venus. At the end of the month Mercury is to be seen very near the horizon, between the west and south-west, about a quarter before five o'clock. With regard to the rapid motions of the planets in their orbits, we may form some idea by a reference to familiar objects,-the velocity of a ship impelled by the winds, particularly if urged over the rolling billows by a furious tempest; the swiftness of a bird winging its flight through the air, especially if pursued by an eagle; the motion of a ball projected from a cannon, which, in some cases, is at the rate of 800 miles in an hour. But these are creeping things: Saturn, one of the most tardy in its course of any of the planets,-a globe 900 times larger than the Earth,—is impelled at the rate of 22,000 miles in an hour, carrying with him a system of stupendous rings, and seven moons, the least of which is larger than the Earth's satellite. Jupiter, whose vast circumference would comprise within it a thousand such globes as the one we inhabit, moves at the rate of 29,000 miles in an hour. The Earth is urged forward at the rate of 68,000 miles in an hour; and Mercury still faster, being 107,000 miles in the same time. But even these motions are slow when compared with that of the comet of 1680, which went half round the Sun in ten hours and a half, and its tail (at least an 100,000,000 of miles in length) turning round at the same time, keeping nearly in the direction opposite the Sun: the velocity of this Comet, at this part of its orbit, (its perihelion,) was 880,000 miles in an hour; and so closely did it approach the Sun, that, supposing the centrifugal or projectile force to have been annihilated at this point of its course, it would have fallen into the Sun in less than three minutes.

METEOROLOGICAL, ZOOLOGICAL, AND BOTANICAL PHENOMENA.

THIS month often comes in mild, but terminates with frost and snow: last wear, however, the end of December was remarkably warm for the season. Fieldfares and redwings assemble in large flocks, especially in snowy weather. Our old friend, the robin, is musical even at this dull season. Vegetation offers ow but few charms: here and there a daisy or a polyanthus is in flower.

Brk! Winter comes on hoarse resounding wings,
loomy dejection marks his furious way,
R shing from frigid northern climes, he flings
A cloudy mantle o'er the short-lived day
Te tempest howls along the roof high rear'd.
And through the woodland leads its furious train;

Tears the few leafy honours Autumn spared,

And madly strews them o'er the' adjacent plain :
Since summer suns no more their influence lend,
The blazing hearth high, high with fuel pile;
The pleasing volume, or the social friend,

Can best the dull, the slow-paced hours beguile."

FARMING AND GARDENING DIRECTIONS.

GIVE fat sheep a little hay occasionally. Kill hogs for bacon, and kill your inter's beef. Fell coppices, and repair drains and ditches. Prepare corn and

raw for the market.

Tie up endive, cardoons, and white-beet. Protect the roots of tender plants ith ashes, rotten tan, &c. In mild weather plant the hardier fruit-trees.

B

TABLE I.-Semi-Diurnal Arcs, allowing for refraction.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Jan.

D.

i. m. h. m.

TABLE II.-The Mean Solar Time of the Southing of the First Point of Aries.

Feb. March April May June July Aug. Sept. ct.
h. m.h. m.. in h. m.h. In.h. m. h. m.h.

ונן

Dec.

Nov.

. m.

h. m. D.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

TABLE III.—The Right Ascensions, Declinations, &c., of the Fixed Stars.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

ON THE USE OF THE PRECEDING TABLES.

TABLE I.-By this Table the Sun's rising and setting may be found in any part of the kingdom. Find the Sun's Declination, north or south, in the Calendar pages, for the day required: then look into the first column of this Table for the corresponding number of degrees; and in the same line, under the latitude of the place required, will be found the hours and minutes of the Sun's setting; subtract the same from twelve hours, and you have the time of his rising: double the hours and minutes of setting, and you have the length of the day: subtract the same from twenty-four hours, and the remainder is the length of the night. This process gives the Sun's rising and setting to apparent time: to which, if the equation of time, given in the Calendar, be applied, the result will be the true clock time.

TABLE II. and TABLE III.-From these Tables the approximate Time of the Southing of the principal Fixed Stars may be found as follows:-Add to the Mean Solar Time of the Southing of the First Point of Aries, the hours and minutes of the Right Ascension of any given Star, the result will be the Mean Time from Noon of its Southing, or passing the Meridian. When the result exceeds 24 hours, then subtract from it 24 hours, and the remainder will be the time Sought from Noon. It is almost unnecessary to say, when the Southing of a Star comes out 13 hours, it is the same as one o'clock in the morning, and when 14 hours, two o'clock, &c.

Note. This method will answer equally for the Southing of the Planets by using their Right Ascension, as given on the top of the Months of the Calendar; and when this is done, if with he Planets' Declination you take the corresponding hours and minutes (having regard to the atitude of the place) from Table I., and subtract the same from their Southing, you have the ime of rising; and by adding, the time of setting.

TABLE IV.-If to the time of High Water at London Bridge, as given in the Calendar, you add the hours and minutes corresponding to any place mentioned in this Table, you have the ime of High Water at that place. At Aberdeen Bar, the Time of High Water happens 11 lours 5 minutes after the Time of High Water at London; at Aberdovy, 5 hours and 23 ninutes after; at Aldborough, 8 hours and 38 minutes after, &c., &c.

Astronomical Characters, used in this Almanack, explained.- The Sun, The Moon, Mercury, Venus, & Mars, 4 Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or the Georgium Sidus, Aries, & Taurus, II Gemini, Cancer, Leo, my Virgo, Libra, m Scorpio, Sagittarius, *Capricornus, * Aquarius, Pisces, 8 Moon's Ascending Node.

[merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][graphic][merged small]

WITHIN the revolution of this year, five eclipses will take place, in the following order. The first is a total and visible eclipse of the Moon, in the night of Friday, the 31st of May. the eclipse begins 9h. 9m.; total darkness begins 10h. 12m.; middle of the eclipse 10h. 50m. ; total darkness ends 11h. 29m.; and the eclipse terminates 12h. 31m., mean time, at Greenwich. (See fig. 1.) The second is a partial eclipse of the Sun, on the night of Saturday, the 15th of June, invisible to us, the conjunction happening at 12h. 26m. P.M.

The third is another partial and invisible eclipse of the Sun, on Sunday, November 10th: the conjunction of the Sun and Moon takes place 9h. 36m. A.M.

The fourth is another great total and visible eclipse of the Moon, in the night of Sunday, the 24th of November: the eclipse begins 9h. 50m.; total darkness begins 10h. 58m.; middle of the eclipse 11h. 45m.: end of total darkness 12h. 3im.; and the eclipse ends on Monday, the 25th, at 1h 39m. morning, mean time, at Greenwich.

The fifth and last is a partial eclipse of the Sun, on Monday, December 9th, and invisible in these parts of the world: the conjunction of the Sun and Moon happens at 8h. 13m. P.M.

SINGULAR AND BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE IN THE HEAVENS, As seen at East Retford, on the 16th of June, 1843: with Two Drawings of the same.

COMMUNICATED BY MR. PIERCY.

EXACTLY as the Sun reached the meridian, the outer edge of a cloud of about 40 degrees in diameter (through which the Sun shone) was encircled by a broad whitish ring, which gradually became more and more burnished, until it had assumed a brightness, in a great measure equal to the Sun itself, so that it was almost impossible for the human eye to look at it for any length of time. Remaining in this state for more than 40 minutes, this circle gradually developed itself towards the east and west, forming a kind of ellipsis, of which not an unfitting representation may be found in the letter O, which gave to the Sun an appearance of being sur rounded by a complete rainbow. The broad parts to the east and west were somewhat more deficient in colour than were the narrow portions to the north and south, which, being confined within narrower limits, exhibited all the most brilliant colours of the iris, the inside being red, and the rest following in regular prismatic order. Shortly after 1 P. M. five other concentric rings were discovered; the arc of the first being parallel to the horizon, passing directly across the Sun's disc, proceeding northwards; and from this two other circles diverged east and west. These rings were of a whitish cast, about 30' broad. Within the arc of one of these last mentioned circles were observed two others crossing each other at right angles; both of these, however, were faint, and gradually disappeared within less than 20 minutes. Three circles were now left, the two surrounding the body of the Sun, and cir cumscribing the dense mass of vapour, and the one described as extending about 90° northward, and passing directly across the Sun's disc. As the Sun progressed westward, this last-mentioned circle changed its position from N. to N.E.; and at a little after 2 o'clock the phenomenon might, properly speaking, be said to have changed from coronæ to parhelia; for at half-past 2 were distinctly seen, on same circle, two mock-suns, the one directly north and the other due east of the Sun's centre: that to the north was surrounded by the iris, and well defined,-the other more indistinct, and of a faint reddish colour. At this period, likewise, the sectional parts of two circles, coloured like the iris, were seen, one in the N. W

the

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][merged small]

subtending an arc of 60°; the other in the S.E., having an arc of 16°. At about 3 o'clock the whole scene gradually became fainter and fainter, and finally disappeared in thin haze, the Sun breaking forth in the fulness of his majesty, and the heavens once more resuming their wonted appearance.

« AnteriorContinuar »