observation still more remote; melting away into a soft tint of light, or no longer visible in the deep azure of the midnight sky; these hosts of stellar systems probably in motion through the vast fields of ether, for which there is room in the unbounded realms of space, and ample time in the rolling ages of eternity!

But art, reason, and even imagination, fail to ascend higher in this wonderful progression, for who will essay to point out the top-stone of the stupendous structure of the universe? "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power not one faileth."

As the objects referred to in this brief sketch of modern astronomy present themselves in a favourable position for observation, their places and phenomena will be duly pointed out in the Astronomical Occurrences for 1831.

JANUARY.

OBLIQUITY OF THE ECLIPTIC.

The magnitudes of this angle at several epochs during the present year are exhibited in the following

TABLE.

1st, the true obliquity is.. 23° 27′ 33′′.0

January

April

1st,

January 1st, the mean obliquity is.. 23 27 42.1

The equations of the equinoctial points at the same

At the boundary of the old and new year, the earth attains that part of its elliptical orbit in which it makes its nearest approach to the sun, or is (in astronomical language) in perihelion; the line drawn from this point to its place of aphelion, is called the major axis of the orbit, the extremities of which are not stationary, but moving forward in the order of the signs. This remarkable motion of the points of perihelion and aphelion, will be better understood by the following figure.

The ellipse is intended to represent the orbit of the earth; W and S, the winter and summer solstices, V and O the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, and P EA the major axis of the earth's orbit; P being the point of perihelion, A of aphelion, and E the sun. In the year 1250, the points of perihelion and aphelion, P A, coincided with the solstitial points WS; these have since then separated 10°, with an annual motion of 62", so that in the year 6476 the major axis of the earth's orbit will have so far revolved, as to coincide with the line of the equinoxes VO. It is calculated that a similar coincidence occurred about 4000 years before the Christian Era, which is so far remarkable, as happening at the time that chronologists consider the creation of the world.

The elliptical form of the earth's orbit may be deduced from the different angles under which the sun is seen at various times of the year, for, it is evident, if its apparent diameter continued the same throughout the whole of its

annual course, that the figure of the orbit would be that of a circle; now this angle is found to be continually varying; it is plain therefore that its distance is so likewise, for it cannot be supposed that the sun's actual magnitude undergoes any increase or diminution; from numerous accurate measurements it is found, that the sun's apparent diameter increases from the 1st of July (when it is at its minimum of 31′ 31′′) to the 1st of January (when it is at its maximum of 32′ 34" 16), and that from this day it diminishes in the same proportion, that it increased in the corresponding parts of the year.

On the 1st of January the sun's place in the heavens is near 1 and 2 v in Sagittarius; on the 18th it will enter Capricornus. According to the tabular Zodiac, the sun enters Aquarius at 33 min. after 5 of the afternoon of the 20th of this month.

LUNAR PHENOMENA.

Phases of the Moon.

Last Quarter 5th day at 54 min. after 10 at night.

Conjunctions of the Moon with the Planets and Stars.

January 2nd, with Regulus.... at 5 in the morning.

Saturn........ noon.

14th, Jupiter

....

1 in the afternoon.

20th, v in Pisces...... 7 in the evening.

....

PHENOMENA PLANETARUM.

Mercury will be at his greatest elongation on the 11th of this month as an evening star, its position at the time will be near the planet Uranus, the latter will not be visible from its proximity to the solar rays. 17th day. Stationary.

Inferior conjunction at 30 min. after 5 of the afternoon of the 26th.

Venus is now an evening star, but too near the sun for satisfactory observation; it will be in conjunction with Jupiter at 6 in the morning of the 13th, and with Uranus at 4 in the afternoon of the 22nd. This planet will also be in conjunction with the following fixed stars in Capricornus: 9 at 8 in the evening of the 23rd; y at 3, and 2 ẞ at 5 in the afternoon of the 30th.

Phases of Venus.

The proportions of the bright and dark phases of this planet are as follow:

January 1st.-Illuminated part = 11.9877

Dark part...... = 0.0123

Mars will be in conjunction with 1 in Pisces at 11 on the night of the 3rd of this month. In quadrature at 30 min. after 9 of the morning of the 14th.

The Asteroids.

Vesta, on the first of the month, is 2° North-west of the star numbered 34 in the constellation Cetus. Although this asteroid has a disc so small as to elude a satisfactory measurement, it shines with an intense and pure white light: when the sky is clear, and it is in a favorable position for observation, it may be seen with