The M.A.S. Newsletter
Journal of the Mauritius Astronomical Society
July 98
Meeting:
The next meeting will be held
at 7hr00 pm on Friday 31st July 1998 at the St Esprit College, Quatre Bornes. At 10hr51,
predicted grazing occultation of 6.8 magnitude star SAO 158696 at south limb of first
quarter Moon.
The NGC 7052 Black Hole:
A 300 million solar-mass black
hole encircled by a 3700 light year diameter dust disc has been found to lie in the centre
of the elliptical galaxy NGC 7052. The object lies at a distance of 191 million light
years from the earth in the constellation of Vulpecula. The NASA Hubble Space Telescope
image was taken with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2, in visible light and released
on Thursday 18th June. Details as small as 50 light years across can be seen. Astronomers
believe that the disc could be the left over of an ancient collision of galaxies.
The Night Sky:
At this time of the year, the sky is relatively clear at night. Overhead is the constellation of the Scorpion, rising from the north-east are the constellations of the Lyre (Lyra) , Swan (Cygnus), Eagle (Aquila) and in the south-east rises the constellation of the Crane (Grus).
Mercury, in the constellation
of Leo, sets at 7hr43 pm on the 14th of July, about 2 hours after sunset.
Conjunctions of the planets:
Jupiter, now in the constellation of Pisces, rises in conjunction with the Moon on the night of 14th July at about 10hr35 pm. The Moon then crosses the reference line of right ascension at 11hr23 pm.
Saturn risesat about 1hr00 in the morning also in the constellation Pisces. It is in conjunction with the Moon at dawn on the 17th of July. Towards the end of this month, its rings can be observed at their maximum opening for the year.
At dawn on the 5th of August,
Venus and Mars are in conjunction in the constellation of Gemini.
Alpha Capricornides:
Also noteworthy is the maximum of the alpha capricornides meteor shower on the 30th of July. There will be no Moon, and the constellation happens to be overhead at about 1hr00 in the morning. Fireballs of negative magnitudes are quite often observed in this meteor shower.
Serge Florens, Secretary