Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-14
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE JUNE
SKIES,
written for the Philadelphia Public Led
ger by Samuel G. Barton Flower
Observatory, University Of
Pennsylvania

written for the Philadelphia Public Led
ger by Samuel G. Barton. Flower
Observatory, University Of
Pennsylvania
The second Of the four eclipses Of the
sun in 1917 occurs on June 10. 1t is a
partial eclipse, visible principally in the
north polar regions. At no place will
more than half of the suns diameter be
obscured at any time. In the extreme
northwestern portion of the United States
a partial eclipse can be seen at sunrise
amounting at most to seven per cent. of
the suns diameter. No eclipse will be
seen in any other part Of the United
States. Canada and Russia will see q
small partial eclipse.
The sun reaches its greatest distance
north of the equator June n at 7:14 p. m.
This marks the beginning Of summer. We
call this the time of the summer solstice,
for the sun then appears to stand still.
that is, ceases its northward motion to
begin its southwark motion. The day
then has its greatest length. and the sun
rises and sets furthest north. On this
day the sun shines vertically at noon at
the tropic Of Cancer and as nearly YER
tically as it ever can at noon at all places
further north.
None Of the planets is in good position
for observation. Mars. Jupiter and Venus
are close to the sun. Saturn is visible
still. but is too low in the west for sat-
!sfactory observation. Mercury can be
seen as a morning star about June II.
VOLTS comet was observed by the writ
er on the morning of May g. Even I'M
der good conditions II was a very faint
object with the large telescope. The
comet will be nearest to the sun on June
16. 1t does not. however, approach the
sun very closely When nearest, 1t is
$50, 900 miles distant. 1t will not be
closest to the earth until August q. Con-
sidering the long time which has elapsed
| since the comet was discovered and that
the comet has been approaching the earth
and sun in the meantime. the present
brightness OF the comet is much below
what might be expected. The indications
are now that the comet will never be even
| a bright telescope object.
! The heavens show much that Is Won
| derful to the naked eye. Telescopes re-
veal much more. and the Photographic
plate applied to the telescope when ex-
posed for hours greatly increases the
| power Of the telescope. 1t is to the pho
| tographic plate that we owe most OF our
information as to the character and ap-
pearance OF the nebula. These show a
great variety Of forms. but the most fire.
1
esting form. is the spiral. They exist
in numbers counted in hundreds OF thou
sands. The great nebula In Androneda
| is Of this kind. 1t Is the only nebula Wis.
| ible to the naked eye. Doubtless the most
striking spiral nebula is the one known
| as the whirlpool nebula. or as M-5l. from
the fact that it was number 81 in Messier' .
catalogue Of nebulae and clusters Even
in large telescopes this object shows lit
tie detail, and 1t Is only by photography
that we have discovered its almost per-
feet spiral form. These photograph
however. have been published SO fire.
quently that it has become one of the
best known nebulas. 1t is located In the
part of the sky now near the zenith in
early evening. II from the star at the
draw a line perpendicular to the line
joining the last two stars in the handle
and extend It about half OF the distance
between the stars toward the concave
side of the handle we shall have very
nearly the location OF this remarkable
nebula. 1t is in a minor constellation
Canes Venatici On the convex side o,
the handle and making very nearly ar
equilateral triangle with the same stars
Of the handle is what Is probably The
next best spiral nebula. M-l0l. II we ex'
tend the diagonal of the bowl of the
dipper, which lies nearly north ant
south. its own length north. we have near
ly the position Of a third important spira
. nebula M-sl, Just under the bottom O.
the dpper lies the largest spiral nebula
, M-97 frequently called the Owl nebula
, since two stars in It at one time CAV,
! it an appearance resembling the face O
an owl. 1t does not now have that ap
) pearance. Smyth and Chamberss Gel
estial Cycle" gives no less than so O
l the brighter nebula in the constellation
E of Ursa MaJor-more than In any othe
c constellation. Ursa Major, however, Is
| yArv Iar0e constellation