Chapter 2

LOCATION.--A line drawn from the Bee Hive, in Cancer, through Regulus, in Leo, and prolonged about 40[deg], ends near the conspicuous quadrilateral which distinguishes Corvus. The brightest star in this region of the sky is Spica, in Virgo. It lies about 10[deg] northeast of Algorab.

[z] is a double star for an opera-glass. A faint pair of stars lie close below and to the west of [b]. The Crow is represented as standing on, and pecking at, the coils of Hydra. The star Al Chiba is in the Crow's bill.

Corvus was known as the Raven in Chaucer's time.

[d] is an interesting telescopic double.

A line drawn from [g] to [b] Corvi and prolonged twice its length locates the third-magnitude star [i] Centauri in the right shoulder of the Centaur. The brightest stars in this constellation are not visible in this latitude.

CRATER (kr[=a]'-ter)--THE CUP. (Face South.)

LOCATION.--Crater is situated 15[deg] west of Corvus, and due south of [th] Leonis. It is easily distinguished by reason of a beautiful and very striking semicircle of six stars of the fourth magnitude, forming the bowl of the cup.

The constellation resembles a goblet with its base resting on the coils of Hydra.

The star Alkes is common to Hydra and Crater, and may be seen 24[deg] southeast of Alphard in the heart of Hydra. It is distinguished by its forming an equilateral triangle with [a] and [g], stars of the same magnitude 6[deg] south and east of it.

Corvus and Crater are to be seen half-way up the southern sky during the early evenings in spring.

[d] is now the lucida.

Crater is situated at about the centre of Hydra and is on the meridian, April 26th. Owing to its many faint stars it is best seen on a clear moonless night.

The zodiacal light is well worth observing at this season of the year. It is to be seen in the western sky shortly after sundown, and is most intense during the evenings of March.

METEORIC SHOWERS.

APRIL TO JULY.

+--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ | | | | | Other Dates | | | Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point |Characteristics| of |Location| | | | | | Observation | | +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ | Beta or Mu |Apr. 9-16| The Dragon's head | | | N.E. | | Draconids | Apr. 18 | | Sw. F. | Apr. 17-25 | | | Beta Serpentids | | The Serpent's head | | | S.E. | +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ | Lyrids, | | About 10[deg] from | | | | | rich shower | Apr. 20 | Vega toward | V. Sw. | | N.E. | | | | Hercules | | | | +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ | Eta Aquarids, | May 6 | Near the Water | Sw. Sk. | After 2 A.M.| E. | | fine annual shower | | Jar | | | | +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ | Alpha Coronids, | May 11 | Near Gemma | Sl. F. | May 7-18 | N. | |well defined in 1885| | ([a]) Coronae B. | | | | +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ | Iota Pegasids, | | Between Cygnus | Sw. Sk. | May 29- | | |well defined shower | May 30 | and the Great | |June 4 after | N.E. | | | | Square | | 10 P.M. | | +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ | Beta Herculids | June 7 | Near the Crown | Sl. B. | A fire ball | S.E. | | | |About 8[deg]S. of | | radiant | | | Beta Ophiuchids | June 10 | Ras Alhague | Sl. | June 10, 13 | S.E. | +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ | Delta Cepheids | June 20 | About 13[deg] from | | June 10-28, | | | | | ([b]) Cassiopeiae | Sw. |July 19, Aug.| N. | | | | | | 25, etc. | | +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+

The Abbreviations under _Characteristics_ are as follows:

V.--very. M.--moderately. Sw.--swift. Sl.--slow. Sh.--short. B.--bright. F.--faint. Sk.--streak-leaving meteors. T.--train-leaving meteors.

THE CONSTELLATIONS OF SUMMER.

DRACO (dr[=a]'-ko)--THE DRAGON. (Face North.)

LOCATION.--About 10[deg] from [a] Ursae Majoris--from [a] to [d] is 10[deg]--slightly south of, that is above, the line from [a] to Polaris, is Giansar, [l] in the tip of the Dragon's tail. Above [l], and almost in line with it, are two more stars in Draco, which form with two stars in Ursa Major a quadrilateral. (See diagram.) Draco now curves sharply eastward, coiling about the Little Bear as shown, then turns abruptly southerly, ending in a characteristic and clearly defined group of four stars, forming an irregular square, representing the Dragon's head. This group is almost overhead in the early evening in summer. The star in the heel of Hercules lies just south of the Dragon's head. The brilliant Vega will be seen about overhead, 12[deg] southwest of the Dragon's head. Eltanin, one of the Dragon's eyes, is noted for its connection with the discovery of the law of aberration of light. It is of an orange hue, while the star [b], near it, is white. Note Thuban, once the Pole Star, at one corner of a quadrilateral that Draco forms with Ursa Major.

Thuban could be seen by day or night from the bottom of the central passage of several of the Pyramids in Egypt.

The rising of Eltanin was visible about thirty-five hundred years B.C. through the central passages of the temples of Hathor at Denderah. The Egyptians called Draco "The Hippopotamus."

Vega and the four stars in the Dragon's head offer an opportunity to compare the first five stellar magnitudes with which all should be familiar.

LYRA (l[=i]'-ra)--THE LYRE.

LOCATION.--Lyra may be easily distinguished because of the brilliant Vega, its brightest star, which is situated about 12[deg] southwest of the Dragon's head. It is unmistakable, as it is the brightest star in this region of the heavens, and the third brightest in this latitude. In July and August Vega is close to the zenith in the early evening.

The six bright stars in Lyra form an equilateral triangle on one corner of a rhomboid. A very characteristic figure.

[e] is a pretty double for an opera-glass, and a 3" glass reveals the duplicity of each star of this pair. [e] is therefore a double double.

[z] is a double for a good glass.

[b] is a variable, changing from magnitude 3.4 to 4.4 in twelve days. At its brightest it is about equal to its near neighbor [g] Lyrae.

The noted ring nebula lies between [b] and [g]. A 3" glass reveals it but a powerful telescope is required to render its details visible.

If the distance from the earth to the sun equalled one inch, the distance from the earth to Vega would be 158 miles.

Vega was the first star to be photographed, in 1850. It is visible at some hour every clear night, and has been called the arc-light of the sky. Its light has the bluish-white hue that suggests "a diamond in the sky."

The spectroscope reveals that Vega is a star probably only in its infancy, as hydrogen is its predominating element.

CYGNUS (sig'-nus)--THE SWAN, OR THE NORTHERN CROSS.

LOCATION.--Deneb, the brightest star in Cygnus, is at the top of the cross, and a little over 20[deg] east of Vega. It forms a triangle with Vega and Altair in Aquila--Altair being at the apex, about 35[deg] from Deneb and Vega.

[b] Cygni is at the base of the cross, and a line drawn from Vega to Altair nearly touches it. It is a beautiful colored double for a small telescope.

Note "61," one of the nearest stars to us. It was the first star whose distance was measured (by Bessel in 1838). It is a double star and 10.4 light years distant.

The cross is nearly perfect and easily traced out. It lies almost wholly in the Milky Way.

Note "The Coal Sack," one of the dark gap in the Milky Way.

Cygnus contains an unusual number of deeply colored stars and variable stars.

[o] Cygni has a sixth-magnitude companion, and [g] is in the midst of a beautiful stream of faint stars.

This region is perhaps richer than any similar extent in the heavens. An opera-glass will reveal many of its beauties.

Herschel counted 331,000 stars in an area of only 5[deg] in Cygnus.

AQUILA (ak'-wi-l[:a])--THE EAGLE, AND ANTINO[:U]S. (Face Southeast.)

LOCATION.--Half-way up the sky in the Milky Way, you will see three stars in a line, the middle one much brighter than the other two. This bright star is Altair, in Aquila. It forms with Vega and Deneb an isosceles triangle. Altair is at the apex, about 35[deg] from the other two. A triangle is formed by Vega, Altair, and Ras Alhague, in the Serpent Bearer, which is about 30[deg] west of Altair.

This is a double constellation composed of Aquila and Antino[:u]s. Altair is in the neck of the Eagle, Alschain in the head of Antino[:u]s.

When the moon is absent, a rude arrowhead can be traced out, embracing almost all the stars in Aquila.

[[^e]] is an interesting variable star, changing from magnitude 3.5 to 4.7 and back again within a period of 7 days 4 hours 12 minutes.

Altair rises about 8[deg] north of the exact eastern point on the horizon.

In A.D. 389 a wonderful temporary star flashed out near Altair that equalled Venus in brightness and vanished within three weeks' time.

DELPHINUS (del-fi'-nus)--THE DOLPHIN, OR JOB'S COFFIN. (Face Southeast.)

LOCATION.--The little cluster of five stars forming Delphinus is to be seen about 10[deg] northeast of Altair, and, though there are no bright stars in the group, it can hardly escape notice. A line drawn from Vega to Albireo, and prolonged about 20[deg], strikes the star [e] in the tail of the Dolphin. The four other stars of prominence in the constellation are a little above [e], and form a diamond-shaped figure.

The little asterisms Sagitta, the Arrow, and Vulpecula and Anser, the Fox and Goose, are shown just above Delphinus.

Delphinus is also called Job's Coffin. The origin of this appellation is unknown.

In Greece, Delphinus was the Sacred Fish, the sky emblem of philanthropy. The Arabs called it the "Riding Camel."

The star [g] Delphini is a fine double for a small telescope with a marked and beautiful contrast of colors.

The names for [a] and [b] reversed spell "Nicolaus Venator," the Latinized name of the assistant to the astronomer Piazzi.

SAGITTARIUS (saj-i-t[=a]-ri-us)--THE ARCHER. (Face South.)

LOCATION.--A line drawn from Deneb, in Cygnus, to Altair, in Aquila, and prolonged an equal distance, terminates in Sagittarius about 10[deg] east of its distinguishing characteristic, the Milk Dipper. Sagittarius is one of the signs of the zodiac, and lies between Capricornus, on the east, and Scorpius, on the west.

The bow is easily traced out. [g] marks the arrow's tip.

Note the star [m], which serves to point out the Winter Solstice, where the solstitial colure intersects the ecliptic.

On a clear night, the pretty cluster known as Corona Australis, the Southern Crown, can be seen about 10[deg] below the bowl of the Milk Dipper. Its lucida, the fourth-magnitude star Alfecca Meridiana culminates at 9 P.M., August 13th.

Sagittarius is about due south, in a splendid position for observation, during the month of July, between the hours of nine-thirty and eleven o'clock P.M.

Observe with an opera-glass the fine clusters 20 M. and 8 M., also an almost circular black void near the stars [g] and [d], and to the east of this spot another of narrow crescent form.

The stars [ph] and [z] in the Milk Dipper are moving in opposite directions. Future generations therefore will not have this time-honored figure to guide them in locating the Archer in their summer night skies.

OPHIUCHUS (of-i-[=u]-kus)--THE SERPENT BEARER, AND SERPENS. (Face Southwest.)

LOCATION.--A line drawn from [e] Delphini to [g] Aquilae, prolonged about 30[deg], strikes the star Ras Alhague, the brightest star in the constellation and the head of Ophiuchus. It is at one angle of an isosceles triangle, of which Altair is at the apex, and Vega the third angle.

Two constellations are here combined. Ophiuchus is represented as an old man, holding in his hands a writhing serpent.

Ras Algethi, marking the head of Hercules, lies just west of Ras Alhague.

Equally distant southeast and southwest of Ras Alhague are to be seen two stars close together, representing the shoulders of Ophiuchus. His foot rests on the Scorpion just above Antares.

The head of Serpens is the star group in the form of an "X" just below the Crown.

1604 indicates the spot where in that year a famous temporary star appeared, called Kepler's star.

Note the asterism the "Bull of Poniatowski" just east of [g]. The star marked 70 is one of the most distant stars for which a parallax has been obtained. Its distance from the earth = 1,300,000 radii of the earth's orbit, or 120 quadrillion miles.

There is something remarkable in the central position of this gigantic figure. It is situated almost exactly in the mid-heavens, being nearly equidistant from the poles, and midway between the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.

SCORPIUS (sk[^o]r'-pi-us)--THE SCORPION. (Face South.)

LOCATION.--Scorpius, one of the signs of the zodiac, is a beautiful star group, and one that is easily traced out. It lies just under the Serpent Bearer, between Sagittarius and Libra.

The resemblance to a Scorpion is not difficult to see, hence this constellation is perhaps the most aptly named of any.

The ruddy star Antares, the brightest star in the constellation, is in the heart of the Scorpion. It lies about 40[deg] southwest of Ras Alhague, in Ophiuchus, and a little over 20[deg] west of the bow of Sagittarius. The fact that it is the most brilliant star in this region of the sky renders its identity unmistakable. It is one of the reddest stars in the firmament.

There are several star clusters and double stars to be seen in this constellation. Their position is indicated in the diagram.

The curved tail of the Scorpion is very conspicuous. [l] and [y] are a striking pair and the fine clusters above them can be seen with the naked eye.

A record of a lunar occultation of [b] Scorpii in 295 B.C. is extant.

Note a pair just below [b]. They are known as [[^o]]^1 and [[^o]]^2.

In this region of the sky have appeared many of the brilliant temporary stars, the first one in astronomical annals being discovered in 134 B.C.

Scorpius is mentioned by all the early writers on astronomy and is supposed to be so named because in Egypt it was a sickly time of the year when the sun entered this sign.

LIBRA (l[=i]'-bra)--THE SCALES. (Face Southwest.)

LOCATION.--Libra is one of the signs of the zodiac, and lies between Virgo and Scorpius. Its two chief stars, [a] and [b], may be recognized west of and above the head of the Scorpion.

The star [i] Librae is about 20[deg] northwest of Antares in the Scorpion. Spica in Virgo, a star of the first magnitude, is a little over 20[deg] northwest of [a] Librae.

A quadrilateral is formed by the stars [a], [b], [g], [e], which characterizes the constellation.

The star [a] Librae looks elongated. An opera-glass shows that it has a fifth-magnitude companion.

[b] is a pale green star. Its color is very unusual.

Lyra, Corona, and Hercules are almost directly overhead in the early evening, during July and August, and can best be observed in a reclining position. Thus placed, with an opera-glass to assist the vision, you may study to the best advantage the wonderful sight spread out before you, and search depths only measured by the power of your glass.

When the sun enters the sign Libra the days and nights are equal all over the world and seem to observe a certain equilibrium like a balance, hence the name of the constellation.

CORONA BOREALIS (k[=o]-r[=o]'n[:a] b[=o]-r[=e]-a'-lis)--THE NORTHERN CROWN.

LOCATION.--A line drawn from [a] Cygni, to [a] Lyrae, and projected a little over 40[deg], terminates in the Crown, which lies between Hercules and Bo[:o]tes, and just above the diamond-shaped group of stars in the head of the Serpent.

The characteristic semicircle resembling a crown is easily traced out. The principal stars are of the fourth magnitude excepting Gemma, which is a second-magnitude star and known as the "Pearl of the Crown."

Gemma, sometimes called Alphacca, forms with the stars Seginus and Arcturus, in Bo[:o]tes, an isosceles triangle, the vertex of which is at Arcturus.

Close to [e] a famous temporary appeared suddenly May 12, 1866, as a second-magnitude star. It was known as the "Blaze Star" and was visible to the naked eye only eight days, fading at that time to a tenth-magnitude star, and then rising to an eighth-magnitude, where it still remains.

The native Australians called this constellation "The Boomerang." To the Hebrews it was "Ataroth" and by this name it is known in the East to-day. No two of the seven stars composing the Crown are moving in the same direction or at the same rate.

[a] Coronae is seventy-eight light years distant and sixty times brighter than the sun.

HERCULES (her'-k[=u]-l[=e]z)--THE KNEELER.

LOCATION.--A line drawn from either Vega, in Lyra, or Altair, in Aquila, to Gemma, in Corona Borealis, passes through this constellation. The left foot of Hercules rests on the head of Draco, on the north, and his head nearly touches the head of Ophiuchus on the south.

The star in the head of Hercules, Ras Algethi, is about 25[deg] southeast of Corona Borealis.

[a] Ophiuchi and [a] Herculis are only about 5[deg] apart.

The cluster 13 M., the Halley Nebula, can be easily seen in an opera-glass. In a recent photograph of this cluster 50,000 stars are shown in an area of sky which would be entirely covered by the full moon.

Hercules occupies the part of the heavens toward which the sun is bearing the earth and planets at the rate of twelve miles a second or 373 million miles a year.

On a clear night the asterism Cerberus, the three-headed dog, which Hercules holds in his hand, can be seen.

This constellation is said to have been an object of worship in Phoenicia. There is a good deal of mystery about its origin. The ancient Greeks called it "The Phantom" and "The Man upon his Knees."

The stars [e], [z], [[^e]], and [p] form a keystone shaped figure that serves to identify the constellation.

BO[:O]TES (b[=o]-[=o]'t[=e]z)--THE HERDSMAN, OR BEAR DRIVER. (Face West.)

LOCATION.--Bo[:o]tes lies just west of the Crown, and east of Cor Caroli. It may be easily distinguished by the position and splendor of its principal star, Arcturus, which shines with a golden yellow lustre. It is about 35[deg] east of Denebola, in Leo, and nearly as far north of Spica, in Virgo, and forms with these two a large equilateral triangle. A line drawn from [z] to [[^e]] Ursae Majoris and prolonged about 30[deg] locates it, as does one from [d] Herculis to [g] Coronae prolonged its length.

The brightest stars in Bo[:o]tes outline a characteristic kite-shaped figure. Arcturus is mentioned in the Book of Job and is often referred to as "The Star of Job."

Three stars of the fourth magnitude are situated in the right hand. They are about 5[deg] north of [[^e]] Ursae Majoris.

Contrast the color of Arcturus with Spica, Antares, and Vega.

The trapezium [b], [g], [d], and [m], was called "The Female Wolves," by the Arabians; [th], [i], [k] and [l], "The Whelps of the Hyenas." They knew the constellation as "The Vociferator."

Arcturus is the fourth brightest star in the northern hemisphere. It is 1000 times the size of our sun and rushes through space toward Virgo at the astounding rate of ninety miles a second. It is forty light years distant.

The ancient Greeks called this constellation "Lycaon," a name which signifies a Wolf. The Hebrew name for it was "The Barking Dog."

VIRGO (ver'-g[=o])--THE VIRGIN. (Face West.)

LOCATION.--An imaginary line drawn from Antares in Scorpius through [a] Librae and prolonged a little over 20[deg] strikes Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, which star is about 30[deg] southwest of Arcturus.

Arcturus, Cor Caroli, Denebola, and Spica form a figure about 50[deg] in length, called the Diamond of Virgo.

The equator, ecliptic, and equinoctial colure intersect each other at a point close to the star [[^e]]. This is called the autumnal equinox.

The star [e] is known as the "Grape Gatherer." It is observed to rise just before the sun at vintage time.

Within the rude square formed by Denebola, and [e], [g], and [b], Virginis, the telescope reveals many wonderful nebulae; hence this region of the sky has been called "The Field of the Nebula."

Spica is an extremely beautiful pure white star. It rises a very little south of the exact eastern point on the horizon.

[g] is a fine double star for a small telescope.

Virgo is mentioned by the astronomers of all ages. By the Egyptians it was intended to represent the goddess Isis, and the Greeks knew it as Ceres. Spica represents the ear of corn held in the Virgin's left hand.

CANES VENATICI (k[=a]'-n[=e]z ve-nat'-i-c[=i])--THE HUNTING DOGS. (Face Northwest.)

LOCATION.--Cor Caroli, the bright star in this constellation, when on the meridian is about 17[deg] south of [e] Ursae Majoris. A line drawn from [[^e]] Ursae Majoris, through Berenice's Hair, to Denebola, in Leo, passes through it.

The dogs, Asterion and Chara, are represented as being held in leash by Bo[:o]tes, the herdsman, in his pursuit of the Great Bear.

Cor Caroli is in the southern hound, Chara, and represents the heart of Charles II of England. It is a beautiful double star in a small telescope.

The so-called "Diamond of Virgo," is clearly shown on this plate. It is formed by connecting with lines the stars Cor Caroli, Denebola, Spica, and Arcturus.

The fifth-magnitude star La Superba, about 7[deg] north and 2-1/2[deg] west of Cor Caroli, is especially noteworthy because of the flashing brilliancy of its prismatic rays.

METEORIC SHOWERS.

JULY TO OCTOBER.