ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
                                    PLANETARY SECTION
Bulletin No 4                                                             July 17, 1962.

PROGRESS   The following additions and alterations have been made to the list of
REPORT     planetary contacts since Bulletin No 3 was published:

     Centre        Contact                  Address
     Calgary       Jim Wright               218 Fourth Ave. N.E., Calgary, Alta
     Edmonton      Rickey Salmon            10341 117 Ave., Edmonton, Alta
     Montreal      Geoffrey Gaherty, Jr     2800 Bill Park Rd, Montreal 25, Que.
     Ottawa        Bill Day                 2647 Ayers Ave., Ottawa 1, Ont.
     Vancouver     Terry Taylor             3229 V. Third Ave., Vancouver 8, B.C.

Mr B. F. Drew of the Regina Astronomical Society has agreed to act as my contact with
that group. Also, one of our unattached members in the U.S., Mr Rodger W. Gordon of Pen
Argyl, Pa, has been submitting observations. The change in my own address indicated is
effective immediately.

Enclosed are sample copies of Forms 1-J and 3, as well as a two-page sheet describing the
use of Forms 2 and 3. As with the forms distributed earlier, additional copies are yours
for the asking.

SATURN   Due to personal circumstances, this Bulletin is being sent out rather later than
         I had hoped. Although the event is only a few days away, I would like to ask
that a special effort be made to observe the occultation of the star B.D.-19°5925 by
Saturn on the night of July 22/23 predicted on p.60 of the Handbook. Notes should be
made on the times of contact and on any fluctuations in the star's brightness during its
passage behind the rings.

JUPITER   Early observations indicate great changes in the giant planet's appearance
          since it was lost to sight last year. Both components of the SEB seem to have
been rejuvenated while the NTB remains invisible. There is a striking contrast between
the extreme duskiness of the EZ and the brilliance of the STrZ, the latter making the ES
a most conspicuous object in small telescopes. With Jupiter moving into the evening sky,
I look forward to receiving observational reports in increasing quantities.

VENUS   Both Toronto and Montreal Centres are engaged in active Venus programs. I will
        endeavor to make any observations submitted to me available to Len Chester and
Klaus Brasch who are co-ordinating these programs for their respective Centres. It is
usually best to view Venus while the Sun is still above the horizon; against a dark sky
the contrast of the brilliant planet will wash out any detail, which is very indefinite
at best.

SUBMISSION OF   Ideally, I would like to receive copies of all observations made by our
OBSERVATIONS    members. This should pose no problems in the case of quantitative
                observations (transits, satellite phenomena, etc.) since carbon copies
are more than adequate for my purpose. On the other hand there is no easy method of
copying pencil drawings. The most common way is to make tracings of major detail with a
light-box end then fill in the finer detail by hand; with care an almost identical copy
can be produced. Photographic copies have also been suggested, and several Centres are
experimenting along these lines. Since this is one of the most serious difficulties
facing us at present, I would appreciate hearing any ideas which you might have on this
subject.


                                            Geoffrey Gaherty, Jr, National Co-ordinator,
                                            Planetary Section, Standing Committee on
                                                 Observational Activities.
                                            2800 Hill Park Road, Montreal 25, Quebec.
                                            Tel.: 514-932-7485.