TABLE III.

TIMES OF UPPER MERIDIAN PASSAGE OF POLARIS, OR NORTH STAR, 1896.

Surveyors and civil engineers may obtain the variation of the magnetic needle for any place in the United States by directing
their compass to the North Star (Polaris) when it is upon the meridian, as given in the table below, for the upper culmination:
or 11 hours 58 minutes 2 seconds, before or after, when the star is on the lower meridian. Exact local time is used in the table, and the
timepiece used must be correct, and the bearing of the star taken promptly on time, and that bearing will be the true variation of
the needle. An error of only a few seconds in the timepiece will vitiate the bearing found; therefore, it will be much better to
take the bearing when the star is furthest east or west, at its greatest elongation, as observations made upon it then are not affected
materially by small errors of timepieces. To use this table for places west of Washington, add 9.83 seconds for each hour of longitude
east of Washington, and subtract 9.83 seconds for each hour west of it. From February 1 to August 1, use the lower culmination.

6:28:21

4:25:58

2:31:34

0:29:31

10:31:42

8:30:10

6:32:42

4:31:20

2:29:53

0:32:10] 10:26:22

8:28:12

6:24:24 4:22:01

:38

10:27:46

8:26:15

10:23:50 8:22:20

8:14:30 6:17:03

10.

6:00:43

3:58:21

0:28:14 10:22:26
6:20:27 4:18:04 2:23:41 0:21:40
:22:02 0:24:19
6:16:30 4:14:08 2:19:45 0:17:44 10:19:55 8:18:25
2:18:07 0:20:23 10:14:34
6:12:33 4:10:11 2:15:49 0:13:48 10:16:00]
2:14:11 0:16:27 10:10:38
6:08:37 4:06:14 2:11:52 0:09:52 10:12:04 8:10:35 6:13:08
2:10:16] 0:12:32
6:04:40 4:02:18 2:07:56] 0:05:56 10:08:09] 8:06:40; 6:09:13
2:06:21 0:08:36 10:02:46
2:03:59 Morn. 10:04:13 8:02:45 6:05:18 4:03:55 2:02:26] 0:04:411 9:58:50 8:00:36
2:00:03 11:58:04 10:00:18 7:58:50] 6:01:23 4:00:00 1:58:30 Even'g.I
1:56:06j 11:54:08 9:56:23 7:54:55 5:57:28 3:56:05 1:54:35 11:52:53
1:52:10 11:50:13 9:52:28 7:51:01 5:53:33 3:52:10 1:50:40 11:48:58
1:48:14 11:46:17 9:48:33 7:47:06 5:49:38 3:48:15 1:46:45 11:45:02
1:44:17 11:42:21 9:44:38] 7:43:10 5:45:43 3:44:20 1:42:49 11:41:06
1:40:21 11:38:26 9:40:42 7:39:15 5:11:48 3:40:25
1:36:25 11:34:30 9:36:47 7:35:20 5:37:54 3:36:30 1:34:58 11:33:14
1:32:29] 11:30:34 9:32:52 7:31:25 5:33:59 3:32:35 1:31:03 11:29:18
1:28:32 11:26:39 9:28:57 7:27:30 5:30:04 3:28:40 1:27:08 11:25:22
1:24:36 11:22:43 9:25:011 7:23:36 5:26:09 3:24:45 1:23:12 11:21:26
1:20:401 11:18:47 9:21:06] 7:19:41 5:22:14 3:20:50 1:19:16 11:17:30
1:16:441 11:14:52 9:17:111 7:15:46 5:18:20 3:16:55 1:15:21 11:13:55
1:12:481 11:10:56 9:13:16 7:11:511 5:14:25 3:13:00 1:11:25 11:09:39
1:08:52! 11:07:00
7:07:56! 5:10:30 3:09:04
1:04:55 11:03:05
7:04:021 5:06:35
1:00:59' 10:59:09
7:00:07 5:02:40
0:57:03 10:55:141 8:57:36 6:56:12 4:58:45

2:43:21

31

4:37:49

0:53:07 10:51:18] 8:53:41 6:52:17 0:49:11 10:47:23 0:45:15 10:43:28 0:41:19'

4:54:50

2:53:24!

0:51:491 10:50:00

8:47:54

6:49:34

8:49:461 6:48:22

4:50:55

2:49:29

0:47:53] 10:46:03

8:43:58

6:45:37

8:45:511 6:44:27

4:47:00

8:41:56

4:43:05

A TABLE OF ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN BRIGHT STARS.

For

To ascertain when any star or constellation found in the following Table will be on the upper meridian, add the numbers opposite in the left-hand column of figures to the time of "Sidereal Noon" found in Table II. For the rising of a star, subtract the number opposite in the right-hand column of figures from its meridian passage. the setting of a star, add the same number to its meridian passage. Those marked (...) revolve in a circle of perpetual apparition, and do not rise nor set north of the lati tude of New-York (40° 42′ 40′′). Stars having an asterisk (*) in the last column are seen only in Florida and Texas, when passing the meridian.

B Orionis (Rigel)

y Orionis (Bellatrix)..

B Tauri (El Nath)
& Orionis (Mintaka)
€ Orionis (Anilam)
a Columba (Phat)..
* Orionis (Saiph)...
a Orionis (Betelguese)
B Auriga (Menkalina).
Geminorum.
Canis Majoris

B Canis Majoris (Mirzam)
a Argus (Canopus)
y Geminorum (Alhena),
Geminorum (Mebusta).
a Canis Majoris (Sirius)
e Canis Majoris (Adhara)..
& Geminorum (Wasat)..
Canis Majoris (Aludra)..
a Geminorum (Castor)..
a Canis Minoris (Procyon).
8 Geminorum (Pollux)
y Argus

95 81 81 Scorpii..

5 18 6 21 a Scorpii (Antares)

5 19 7 52 8 Herculis (Rutilicus).

5 26 5 59 a Herculis

580 5 56 A Scorpii (Lesuth)..........

5 35 3

37 y Aræ.....

5 42 5 26a Aræ..

5 49 6 26 8 Draconis (Rastoban)......
5 51 9 53 0 Scorpii

6 87 24 a Ophiuchi (Ras Alhague).
1y Draconis (Etanin)

6 15 4

6 17 4 55 μ Sagittarii.

e Sagittarii.

6 377 36 B Lyræ..

6 31 6 59 a Lyra (Vega)...

6 40 5 1 Sagittarii

6 51 4 7a Aquila (Altair)..

7 13 7 22 a2 Capricorni (Giedi)..
7 19 4 5 a Pavonis

7 27 8 11

a Cygni (Deneb)..

a Cephei (Alderamin).

7 33 6 19

8 Aquarii.

7 38 7 50

*

8 5 1 31
8 19
7 59 2 58
9 13

9 21 5 31

B Cephei (Alphirk).
e Pegasi (Enif)..
a Aquarii

a Gruis

Pegasi..

.......

a Pisces Australis (Fomalhaut)

9 38 7 31

Example. The seven stars will be on the meridian for Jan. 1, 1896, at Sh. 56m. 42s. evening, and will set 4h. 25m. 42s. in the morning of Jan. 2, and would rise on the 1st at 1h. 27m. 42s. in the afternoon, and would not of course be seen then, the sun being

up.

RISING, SETTING AND MERIDIAN PASSAGE OF PLANETS, 1896.

Mo. Mo. Mo. Mo. Mo. Mo.

Mo. Mo. Eve Mo. Mo. Mo. H. M. H.M. H.M. H.M. H.M. H.M. H.M. H.M. H.M. H.M. H.M. H.M. 18:57 3:37 3:55 10:10 5:06 5:35 1:57 7:06 6:42 8:16 2:50 3:08 11 9:05 3:51 4:15 10:02 5:00 5:30 1:13 6:21 5:57 7:41 2:15 2:33 21 9:16 4:07 4:33 9:54 4:53 5:23 0:28 5:40 5:16 7:04 1:39 1:57 19:29 4:23 4:50 9:46 4:45 5:15 Ev.Sets. Sets. 6:22 0:57 1:15 11 9:42 4:36 5:02 9:39] 4:37 5:07 10:50 Mo. Me.| 5:44 0:20] 0:38 21 9:54 4:43 5:08 9:31| 4:26| 4:55 10:06 5:00 5:26 5:06] Ev. Ev. 1 10:04 4:48 5:10 9:24 4:16 4:43 9:28 4:22 4:48 4:31 11:03 11:21 1110:14 4:51 5:07 9:16 4:04 4:29] 8:46 3:41 4:07 3:51 10:22 10:40 21 10:23 4:49 5:02 9:08 3:51 4:13 8:06 3:00] 3:26] 3:10 9:41 9:59 1 10:31 4:46 4:53 8:58 3:35 3:53 7:23 2:17 2:43 2:25 8:57 9:13 11 10:36 4:41 4:43 8:48 3:19 3:25 6:45 1:40 2:06 1:43 8:13 8:31 21 10:42 4:33| 4:32 8:38 3:03 3:15 6:08 1:02] 1:28 1:01 7:31 7:48 1 10:48 4:30 4:21 8:26 2:43 2:52 5:34 Ev. 0:52] Ev. Sets. Sets. 11 10:55 4:27 4:13 8:15 2:26 2:31 5:00 11:49 0:17 11:33] Mo.] Mo. 21 11:03 4:25 4:06 8:04 2:08 2:10 4:26 11:14 Ev.10:50 4:23| 4:06 111:15 4:27 4:02 7:51 1:48 1:47 3:50 10:37 11:01 10:04 3:37 3:21 11 11:27 4:33 4:06 7:38 1:28 1:24 3:18 10:04 10:28 9:23 2:55 2:39 21 11:40 4:42 4:12 7:26 1:10 1:02 2:46 9:31 9:54 8:42 2:15 1:59 111:54 4:55 4:25 7:13 0:51 0:40 2:15 8:58 9:20 8:01 1:34 1:18 11 e0:08 Sets.]Sets. 7:01 0:35 0.23 1:44 8:26 8:47 7:21 0:54 0:38 21 0:21 Ev. Ev. 6:48 Ev. Ev. 1:13 7:54 8:14 6:42 Ev. Ev. 10:33 7:14 7:35 6:33 11:53 11:35 0:39 7:18 11 0:43 7:14 7:30 6:19 11:34 11:14 0:08 Ris. 21 0:50 7:10 7:20 6:04 11:16 10:54 Mo. Mo. Mo. 4:45 10:13 9:56 1 0:57 7:00 7:06 5:47 10:55 10 29 11:04 4:29 4:14 4:04 9:31 9:14 11 1:02 7:01 7:01 5:30 10:35 10:08 10:33 4:01 3:45 3:28 8:54 8:37 21 1:08 6:52 6:44 5:10 10:13 9:46 10:01 3:31 3:16 2:52 8:18 8:01 11:15 6:48 6:34 4:48 9:48 9:20 9:29 3:01 2:47 2:17 7:42 7:24 11 1:23 6:44 6:21 4:22 9:22 8:53 8:57 2:30 2:17 1:42 7:06) 6:48 21 1:33 6:45 6:20 3:52 8:52 8:23 8:25 2:00 1:48 1:07 Ris. Ris. 1 1:46 6:49 6:15 3:13 8:09 7:38 7:48 1:24 1:12 0:28 Mo. Mo. 11 2:00 6:58 6:26 2:31 7:25 6:54 7:13 0:50 0:39 Mo.] 6:33 6:52 21 2:15 7:12 6:39 1:43 6:35 6:02 6:38 Ev. 0:06 11:19 5:58 6:17 12:29 7:28 6:58 0:49 Sets. Sets. 6:02 11:38 Ev. 10:45] 5:25| 5:43 11 2:42 7:47 7:18] Ev. Mo. Mo. 5:25 11:02 10:52 10:10 4:51 5:09 21 2:51 8:03] 7:35 10:52 6:01 6:34 4:47 10:24 10:14 9:35 4:17 4:35 31 3:00 8:24 8:02 10:01 5:09 5:42 4:07 9:44 9:34 9:00 3:42 4:01

7:37

6:00 11:28 11:12

Ris.

5:22 10:50 10:34

FIXED AND MOVABLE FESTIVALS AND CYCLES, 1896.

EMBER DAYS-February 26, 28, 29; May 27, 29, 30; September and December 16, 18, 19.

THE SEASONS-Spring, March 19; summer, June 20; autumn, September 22; winter, December 21.

AZIMUTH TABLE OF POLARIS, OR NORTH STAR, 1896.

The azimuths in the annexed table, applied properly to the magnetic bearing of P.-laris at the time of its greatest elongation east or west, will give the true variation of the magnetic needle from a true north direction, and will be of great use to all surveyors and engineers. When the elongation is east the azimuth will be east and vice versa. At the present time the line of "No Variation" of the needle runs southeasterly from near Toledo, Ohio, to a point on the Atlantic coast about fifty miles southwest of Cape Fear, N. C. East of that line the north end of the needle points west of a true north, and west of that line east of the true north. The country may therefore be divided into eastern and western magnetic regions. In the "Eastern Region" the bearing of Polaris at its western elongation, if eastward, added to the azimuth, gives the desired variation West; but if Westward, the bearing taken from the azimuth gives the variation west. The bearing of Polaris at its eastern elongation will be eastward, and the azimuth subtracted therefrom gives the variation west. In the "Western Region" the bearing of Polaris at its eastern elongation, if westward, added to the azimuth, gives the variation east; but if eastward, the bearing taken from the azimuth gives the variation east. The bearing of Polaris at its western elongation will be westward, and diminished by the azimuth gives the variation east. The azimuths in the table, given for two degree zones, are practically sufficient for all the United States except Alaska. For intermediate latitudes, and dates, the azimuths may be found by proportion sufficiently correct, or exactly by the formula, log-sine azimuth equal log-sine Polar Distance of Polaris minus log-cosine latitude. The surveyor or engineer is on the line of "No Variation" when the bearing of Polaris at greatest elongation is the same as the azimuth.

1 25 31 26 471 28 421 30 49 1 33 91 35 43 1 38 34 1 41 43 1 45 12

December.. 311 14 31 24 401 26 24 1 28 181 30 24 1 32 44 1 35 171 38 71 41

49

151

13

19

45

19

44

PLANETS BRIGHTEST AND BEST SEEN.

MERCURY. April 25, and September 22, soon after sunset; also February 29, in the east before sunrise, and at a few other times, not favorable for visibility.

VENUS. Not attaining a maximum splendor this year, may be seen fairly well in January and December. MARS December 11. JUPITER, January 24. SATURN, May 5. URANUS, May 12.

Venus will be visible about July 9, and will not reach its greatest elongation this year. Mars will be visible at night, morning or evening, all the year, and becomes brightest at opposition December 10, and rises before midnight after September 1. Jupiter will be invisible August 12, and brightest and an all-night star January 24. Saturn becomes an all-night star May 5, and will be brightest then; becomes invisible on November 13, and rises after that in the morning.

Jan. Feb. Mar. Ap'l. May June July Aug. Sept Oct. Nov. Dec. 261

13-311 29

281

25 201 151 11

19

16

141 10

8

5/2-30

81 71 4/2-30 27 231 211 171 14 11:

7

4

17

15

11