The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-17
ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA.

The Events that Will Take Place During
the Present Year.
The principal phenomena predicted for
the year 1891 are four eclipses, two of the
sun and two of the moon, a transit of Mer-
curry over the SUMS disk, and the Disappear
ance and temperance of Saturn's rings.
OF these the last two will excite the most
interest.
A total eclipse of the moon. May %. will
be invisible in the United states. but visi-
bic generally throughout the western part
of the Pacifi C ocean,, Australia, Asia, Africa
and Europe.
An annular eclipse of the sum-, June 6.
will be visible in the northern part Of
Siberia. Is will be visible as a partial
eclipse in the western part of the United
States. in British America. Europe, and
Siberia.
A total eclipse of the moo November
Is, will be visible throughout North and
South America, Asia, Africa, Europe and
tine Atlantic ocean, 1t will begin at three
ID. thirty-six III. and end at nine b, three III.
p. III. central time.
A partial eclipse of the sun. Dec. /, will
BE- visible only in the southern part of
South America and the south polar region.
The transit of Mercury across the suns
disk will take place on May 8, beginning at
- II M VI, dhAo CAAi1H az lOsOo pe ILL.,
time. 1t will be partly visible in the United
States and throughout the western part Of
North and South America and Asia. Tit
whole transit will be visible in Japan,
China. eastern Siberia, Australia. and
the Malaysian islands. 1t is not likely
that any expedition will be sent out for the
purpose of obtaining observations of this
transit under favorable circumstances for
such observations would be of value only III
Diet ermining the place of the planet. The
solar parallax. for which such great pains
have been taken in observing ~transits of
Venus. has. by other means, been deter
mined with much greater accuracy than
There are, however. interesting questions
as to the planets appearance
during IFS transit, its atmosphere and mo-
ton. No one who has the opportunity to
observe this transit should neglect to make
all the use possible Of it.
Professor G. w. Coakley. of the universe
ty of New York, has computed the times OF
the contacts for several of the observatorief
of the United States. data which will bt
found very useful for those wishing to OBJ
| serve the transit.
On September % the earth will pas!
through the plane of Saturn's rings. The
rings then. i'll telescopes of sufficient power
to show them. will appear as a fine straight
thread of light. From September % TO DC.
tober 30 the earth will be above the plane o.
the rings, while the sun will be below tha
plane, shining upon the south side of the
rings. The ing then should entirely dis
appear, except tbs very fine thread of light
which comes from the outer edges
After October 30 the sun viii
be on he north side of tn,
plane of til, rings, SO that its light will il
Illuminate the same side of the rings a
which we look. Many interesting observa
lions were made at the time of the disap
pearance of Saturn's rings in 1878, and, al
though the position of the planet will b.
very unfavorabie. it is to be no, ed tina
meny of them will be repeated this year
and accurate data obtained for the solution
of the problems connected with the rinos
Saturn will be in conjunction with the sui
on September II, so that at the time of tn
disappearance of the iings it will be yer
close TO the sun and can be observed onl
very near to the horizon.