Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub
[graphic]

The following table shows what must be added t the solar time, as indicated by a good sun-dial, t obtain the mean time, or that which should be show by a well-regulated clock at the same moment. Th addition for the intermediate epochs is to be foun by proportion.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Moon's Passage over the Meridian.

The following numbers indieate the time when th Moon's centre will pass the meridian of the Roy Observatory. For other meridians, a slight redu tion, depending upon the Moon's horary motion an the longitude of the place, will be necessary.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

-18th,

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

19th, 44

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

1

PHENOMENA PLANETARUM.

Phases of Venus.

ases of this beautiful planet are subject to n, like those of the Moon. We have alplained the method of calculating these, as e problem of determining her greatest brilee T. T. for 1819); and shall, therefore, rt the results for the 1st of each month in nt volume.

January 1st

Illuminated part = 5'71737
Dark part
= 6.28263

Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites.

llowing are such of the eclipses of Jupiter's A second satellites as will be visible at the bservatory this month. The time is taken earest minute; and it may therefore be necesemind the young observer, that he should be elescope a little before the phenomenon is d to take place.

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

2d Satellite, 11th day, at 53 m. after 9 in the evening.

Form of Saturn's Ring.

explanations respecting this singular phenosec T. T. for 1819. The results we shall inr every third month; leaving the calculations performed by our young astronomical students.

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]
[graphic]

Mercury will be in conjunction with Georgiun Sidus on the 4th, when the former planet will be 44 south of the latter. Mercury will also be in his su perior conjunction at 15 m. after 7 in the evening o the 22d. The Moon will be in conjunction with ß i Taurus at 17 m. past 7 in the evening of the 5th; wit « in Leo at 44 m. past 2 in the afternoon of the 10th with a in Scorpio at 34 m. after 7 in the evening of th 18th; with Mercury at 1 m. after 6 in the morning of th 23d; and with Venus at 9 m. past 4 in the afternoon o the 26th. Mars will be stationary on the 10th. Satur will be in quadrature at 45 m. past 9 in the evenin of the same day; and Jupiter will also be in quadra ture at 15 m. after 6 in the morning of the 12th.

The Naturalist's Diary

For JANUARY 1822.

O sire of storms! whose savage ear
The Lapland drum delights to hear,
When Frenzy, with her blood-shot eye,
Implores thy dreadful deity-
Archangel power of desolation,

Fast descending as thou art,'
Say, hath mortal invocation

Spells to touch thy stony heart?
Then, sullen WINTER, hear my prayer,
And gently rule the ruined year;
Nor chill the wanderer's bosom bare,
Nor freeze the wretch's falling tear;

To shiv'ring Want's unmantled bed

Thy horror-breathing agues cease to lend,

And mildly on the orphan head

Of Innocence descend!

But chiefly spare, O king of clouds,

The sailor in his airy shrouds

When wrecks and beacons strew the steep,

And spectres walk along the deep.

CAMPBELL.

THE most intense cold is usually experienced i

this month-of late years. January has put on

spect, but is seldom free from high winds ns. There are, however, exceptions; the f 1819-20 was very early in its commencegorous in its season, and severe in its termisuch as for several years has not visited our f the earth: deep snows, and of long con, destroyed a portion of smaller birds, and, same time, a considerable number of the beasts of prey, as the martin-cat, &c. (See volume, p. 24.)

e uses of snow, and of the beautiful appear. ffrost, we have repeatedly spoken in our ng volumes; we may now add, that the effect. is sometimes produced by frost on the walls uthouse in the garden is very curious, being - covered with small crystals, which, on introa candle at light, glitter as if set with jewels. llowing singular appearance of snow is rein the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal (vol. 96). In January 1809, the Rev. D. A. Clark ed in Morris Town, New Jersey, a regular ion of cylinders of snow. When a deep snow pon the ground, a shower of rain fell, and, in quence of a sudden cold, the rain was con

on the surface of the snow, and formed upon cake of ice.. Another shower of snow fell to pth of three-fourths of an inch, and, the sky. g suddenly cleared, the cold became very inand the wind blew a gale. Nature now began ort with her fancy frost-work. Particles of the moved upon the icy crust from 12 to 20 inches, hen began to roll, making a track upon the ice. balls enlarged according to circumstances, and, by the declivity of the ground, the rolls were e size of a barrel, and some even larger. Thus whole creation, as far as the eye could see, was ered with snowballs, differing in size from that lady's muff to a diameter of 2 or 3 feet, hollow

[graphic]

at each end to almost the very centre, and all as tru as so many logs of wood shaped in a lathe.

In January, the numerous tribes of birds quit thei retreats in search of food. The red-breast (sylvi rubecula) begins to sing; larks (alauda arvensis congregate, and fly to the warm stubble for shelter and the nut-hatch (sitta europea) is heard. Th shell-less snail or slug (limax) makes its appearance and commences its depredations on garden plant and green wheat. The missel thrush (turdus viscivorus begins its song. This bird sings between the flyin showers, and continues its note till the beginning o August.

The hedge-sparrow (sylvia modularis) and th thrush (turdus musicus) now begin to sing. Th wren, also, 'pipes her perennial lay,' even among the flakes of snow. The titmouse (parus) pull straw out of the thatch, in search of insects; linnet (fringilla linota) congregate; and rooks (corvu frugilegus) resort to their nest trees. Pullets begin to lay; young lambs are dropped now.

The house sparrow (fringilla domestica) chirps the bat (vespertilio) appears; spiders shoot out thei webs; and the blackbird (turdus merula) whistles The fieldfares, red-wings, skylarks, and titlarks, re sort to watered meadows for food, and are, in part supported by the gnats which are on the snow, nea the water. The tops of tender turnips and ivy-ber ries afford food for the graminivorous birds, as the ringdove, &c. Earth-worms lie out on the ground and the shell-snail (helix nemoralis) appears. See some lines to the snail in T.T. for 1818, p. 23; and on the utility of worms in manuring the soil, in ou last volume, p. 27.

Calendars of Flora were recommended by LINNEUS to be made out yearly for every province of a kingdom according to the time of plants coming into leaf, flower, and fruit, in order that not only

[graphic]
« НазадПродовжити »