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Title: A Field Book of the Stars

Author: William Tyler Olcott

Release date: March 9, 2007 [eBook #20769]

Language: English

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A FIELD BOOK
OF
THE STARS

BY

WILLIAM TYLER OLCOTT

Second Edition, revised and enlarged

WITH FIFTY DIAGRAMS

G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
The Knickerbocker Press

COPYRIGHT, 1907
BY
WILLIAM TYLER OLCOTT
Copyright, 1914
BY
WILLIAM TYLER OLCOTT
(For Second Edition)

Printed in the United States of America

INTRODUCTION.
Considering the ease with which a knowledge of the constellations can be
acquired, it seems a remarkable fact that so few are conversant with these
time-honored configurations of the heavens. Aside from a knowledge of
"the Dipper" and "the Pleiades," the constellations to the vast majority, are
utterly unknown.
To facilitate and popularize if possible this fascinating recreation of star-
gazing the author has designed this field-book. It is limited in scope solely
to that purpose, and all matter of a technical or theoretical nature has been
omitted.
The endeavor has been to include in these pages only such matter as the
reader can observe with the naked eye, or an opera-glass. Simplicity and
brevity have been aimed at, the main idea being that whatever is bulky or
verbose is a hindrance rather than a help when actually engaged in the
observation of the heavens.
The constellations embraced in this manual are only those visible from the
average latitude of the New England and Middle States, and owe their place
in the particular season in which they are found to the fact that in that
season they are favorably situated for observation.
With this brief explanatory note of the purpose and design of the book, the
author proceeds to outline the scheme of study.

SCHEME OF STUDY.
The table of contents shows the scheme of study to be pursued, and to
facilitate the work it is desirable that the student follow the therein
circumscribed order.
A knowledge on the part of the reader of Ursa Major, or "the Dipper" as it is
commonly called, and "the Pleiades," the well-known group in Taurus, is
presupposed by the author.
With this knowledge as a basis, the student is enabled in any season to take
up the study of the constellations. By following out the order dictated, he
will in a few nights of observation be enabled to identify the various
configurations making up the several constellations that are set apart for
study in that particular season.
A large plate, showing the appearance of the heavens at a designated time
on the first night of the quarter, is inserted before each season's work. This
should be consulted by the student before he makes an observation, in order
that he may obtain a comprehensive idea of the relative position of the
constellations, and also know in what part of the heavens to locate the
constellation which he wishes to identify.
A knowledge of one constellation enables the student to determine the
position of the next in order. In this work, the identification of each
constellation depends on a knowledge of what precedes, always bearing in
mind the fact that each season starts as a new and distinct part to be taken
by itself, and has no bearing on that which comes before.

CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction iii
Scheme of Study v
The Constellations of Spring.
Map of the Heavens 9 p.m., April First 3
1. Ursa Major 4
2. Ursa Minor 6
Located by the pointer stars in Ursa Major.
3. Gemini 8
Located by a line drawn through designated stars in Ursa Major.
4. Auriga 10
Located in the same manner as Gemini.
5. Cancer 12
Located by a line drawn from Auriga to Gemini and prolonged.
6. Hydra 14
The head of Hydra is to be seen just below Cancer.
7. Leo 16
Located by a line drawn from Gemini to Cancer and prolonged.
8. Coma Berenices 18
Position indicated by drawing a line through designated stars in
Leo.
9. Canis Minor 20
Located by a line drawn from Auriga to Gemini and prolonged.
10.Corvus 22
Located by a line drawn from Ursa Minor through Ursa Major
and prolonged.
11. Crater 24
Located south of Leo and just west of Corvus.
Meteoric Showers, April to July 26
The Constellations of Summer.

Map of the Heavens 9 p.m., July First 31
12.Draco 32
Lies between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, coiling about the
latter.
13.Lyra 34
Vega, its brightest star, is 12° S.W. of the Dragon's head.
14.Cygnus 36
Deneb, its brightest star, is about 20° east of Vega.
15.Aquila 38
Located by a line drawn from the Dragon's head through Vega
and prolonged.
16.Delphinus 40
Located about 10° northeast of Altair in Aquila.
17.Sagittarius 42
Located by a line drawn from Cygnus to Aquila and prolonged.
18.Ophiuchus and Serpens 44
Located by a line drawn from Delphinus to Aquila and
prolonged.
19.Scorpius 46
Located just under Ophiuchus, and west of Sagittarius.
20.Libra 48
Located about 15° west of the head of Scorpius.
21.Corona Borealis 50
Located just above the head of Serpens.
22.Hercules 52
Located by lines drawn from either Vega or Altair to Corona.
23.Boötes 54
Located just west of the Crown. Arcturus, its brightest star, is
about 30° southeast of η Ursae Majoris.
24.Virgo 56
Spica, its brightest star, is located by a line drawn from Antares
in Scorpius through α in Libra and prolonged about 20°.
25.Canes Venatici 58

Cor Caroli, its brightest star, is about 17° south of Alioth in Ursa
Major.
Meteoric Showers, July to October 60
The Constellations of Autumn.
Map of the Heavens 9 p.m., October First 65
26.Cassiopeia 66
Located by a line drawn from Ursa Major through the Pole star,
the position of which is indicated by the pointer stars α and β
Ursae Majoris.
27.Cepheus 68
Located by pointer stars in Cassiopeia.
28.Pegasus 70
The great square of Pegasus is located by a line drawn from
Polaris to Cassiopeia and prolonged.
29.Andromeda 72
The star Alpheratz in Andromeda is at the northeast corner of the
great square of Pegasus.
30.Perseus 74
Lies 9° east of γ Andromedae.
31.Pisces 76
The Circlet in Pisces is to be seen just below Pegasus.
32.Triangulum 78
A line drawn from Pegasus to Perseus passes through β in
Triangulum.
33.Aquarius 80
The position of the water jar of Aquarius is determined by
pointer stars in Pegasus.
34.Capricornus 82
The head of the Sea Goat is located by a line drawn from α
Pegasi through ζ and θ Pegasi and prolonged about 25°.
35.Aries 84
Lies just south of Triangulum. A line drawn from γ Andromedae
through β Trianguli points out α Arietis.
36.Cetus 86
The head of Cetus lies about 20° southeast of Aries.

37.Musca 88
Located between Triangulum and Aries.
Meteoric Showers, October to January 90
The Constellations of Winter.
Map of the Heavens 9 p.m., January First 95
38.Taurus 96
Contains the celebrated and unmistakable group, The Pleiades,
to be seen almost overhead in the early evening during the
Winter months.
39.Orion 98
The tips of the horns of the Bull are pointer stars to Betelgeuze,
in Orion.
40.Lepus 100
Located just below Orion.
41.Columba 102
Located south of Lepus, close to the horizon.
42.Canis Major 104
Located by a line drawn from the stars forming Orion's girdle.
43.Argo Navis 106
Located by a line drawn from Orion to Canis Major and
prolonged 18°.
44.Monoceros 108
Located just east of Orion.
45.Eridanus 110
Located just west of Rigel, in Orion.
Meteoric Showers, January to April 112
The Planets 115
The Milky Way 124
The Motions of the Stars 126
Meteors, or Shooting Stars 130
Names of the Stars and their Meanings 133
Index 159

THE DIAGRAMS.
The diagrams, it will be observed, are grouped under the seasons, and they
indicate the positions of the constellations as they appear at 9 o'clock p.m. in
mid-season.
To facilitate finding and observing the constellations, the student should
face in the direction indicated in the text. This applies to all constellations
excepting those near the zenith.
The four large plates are so arranged that the observer is supposed to be
looking at the southern skies. By turning the plate about from left to right,
the eastern, northern, and western skies are shown successively.
On many of the diagrams the position of nebulæ is indicated. These are
designated by the initial letter of the astronomer who catalogued them,
preceded by his catalogue number, as for instance 8 M. signifies nebula
number 8 in Messier's catalogue.
The magnitudes assigned to the stars in the diagrams are derived from the
Harvard Photometry. When a star is midway between two magnitudes the
numeral is underlined, thus 2, indicates a star of magnitude 2.5.
If a star's magnitude is between 1 and 1.5 it is regarded as a first-magnitude
star. If it lies between 1.5 and 2 it is designated second magnitude.

THE CONSTELLATIONS OF SPRING.

Map showing the principal stars visible from Lat. 40° N. at 9 o'clock
April 1st.

URSA MAJOR (er´sa mā´-jor)—THE GREAT
BEAR. (Face North.)
Location.—Ursa Major is probably the best known of the constellations,
and in this work I presuppose that the reader is familiar with its position in
the heavens. It is one of the most noted and conspicuous constellations in
the northern hemisphere, and is readily and unmistakably distinguished
from all others by means of a remarkable cluster of seven bright stars in the
northern heavens, forming what is familiarly termed "The Dipper."
The stars α and β are called the pointers, because they always point toward
the Pole Star, 28¾° distant from α.
Alioth is very nearly opposite Shedir in Cassiopeia, and at an equal distance
from the Pole. The same can be said of Megres, in Ursa Major, and Caph, in
Cassiopeia.
The star ο is at the tip of the Bear's nose. A clearly defined semicircle
begins at ο and ends in the pair ι and κ at the extremity of the Bear's right
fore paw. This group of stars resembles a sickle. Note little Alcor close to
Mizar. This star was used by the Arabs as a test of good eyesight.
Mizar and Alcor are known as the horse and his rider.
This plate shows the Bear lying on his back, his feet projected up the sky;
three conspicuous pairs of stars represent three of his four feet.
The Chaldean shepherds and the Iroquois Indians gave to this constellation
the same name. The Egyptians called it "The Thigh."
α and η are moving through space in a contrary direction to the remaining
five stars in "The Dipper."

URSA MAJOR

URSA MINOR (er´-sa mi´-nor)—THE LITTLE
BEAR. (Face North.)
Location.—The two pointer stars in Ursa Major indicate the position of
Polaris, the North Star, which represents the tip of the tail of the Little Bear,
and the end of the handle of the "Little Dipper." In all ages of the world,
Ursa Minor has been more universally observed and more carefully noticed
than any other constellation, on account of the importance of the North Star.
Polaris is a little more than 1¼° from the true pole. Its light takes fifty years
to reach us.
A line joining β Cassiopeiæ, and Megres, in Ursa Major, will pass through
Polaris.
At the distance of the nearest fixed star our sun would shine as a star no
brighter than Polaris which is presumably about the sun's size.
Polaris revolves around the true pole once in twenty-four hours in a little
circle 2½° in diameter. Within this circle two hundred stars have been
photographed.
The North Star is always elevated as many degrees above the horizon as the
observer is north of the equator.
Compare the light of the four stars forming the bowl of the "Little Dipper,"
as they are each of a different magnitude. A standard first-magnitude star is
2½ times brighter than a standard second magnitude star, etc.

URSA MINOR

GEMINI (jem´-i-ni)—THE TWINS. (Face West.)
Location.—A line drawn from β to κ Ursæ Majoris and prolonged an equal
distance ends near Castor, in Gemini. Gemini is characterized by two nearly
parallel rows of stars. The northern row if extended would reach Taurus, the
southern one Orion. Note the fine cluster 35 M. Herschel discovered Uranus
in 1781 a short distance southwest of it. Two wonderful streams of little
stars run parallel northwest on each side of the cluster. Where the ecliptic
crosses the solstitial colure is the spot where the sun appears to be when it is
farthest north of the equator, June 21st. Castor is a fine double for a
telescope, and Pollux has three little attendant stars. An isoceles triangle is
formed by Castor, Aldebaran in Taurus, and Capella in Auriga. There is a
record of an occultation in Gemini noted about the middle of the fourth
century b.c.
The Arabs saw in this group of stars two peacocks, the Egyptians two
sprouting plants, and the Hindus twin deities, while in the Buddhist zodiac
they represented a woman holding a golden cord. Since classic times,
however, the figure has always been that of human twins.
At the point indicated near θ a new star was discovered by Enebo in March,
1912. It attained a maximum of about magnitude 3.5 and has at this writing
waned to the eleventh magnitude.

GEMINI

AURIGA (â-ri´-ga)—THE CHARIOTEER. (Face
Northwest.)
Location.—A line drawn from δ to α Ursæ Majoris, and prolonged about
45°, ends near the bright Capella, in Auriga, a star of the first magnitude,
and one of the most brilliant in the heavens. It is unmistakable, having no
rival in brightness near it. Auriga is a beautiful and conspicuous
constellation. It is characterized by a clearly defined pentagon. Note the
three fourth-magnitude stars near Capella known as "The Kids." The star β
is common to Auriga and Taurus, being the former's right foot and the
latter's northern horn. The field within the pentagon is particularly rich in
clusters. Capella forms a rude square with Polaris, ε Cassiopeiæ, and ο
Ursæ Majoris, and forms an equilateral triangle with Betelgeuze in Orion,
and the Pleiades in Taurus.
A line from θ to α Aurigæ prolonged about 20° ends near α Persei.
Capella is visible at some hour of every clear night throughout the year. Of
the first-magnitude stars it is nearest to the Pole, and it rises almost exactly
in the northeast.
To the Arabs Capella was "The Driver," because it seemed to rise earlier
than the other stars and so apparently watched over them, or still more
practically as "The Singer" who rode before the procession cheering on the
camels, which last were represented by the Pleiades.

AURIGA

CANCER (kan´-ser)—THE CRAB. (Face West.)
Location.—Cancer lies between Gemini and Leo. A line drawn from Nath
in Auriga to Pollux in Gemini, and prolonged about 15°, ends in Præsepe,
the Manger, the great star cluster in Cancer, which is also called "The Bee
Hive." It contains 300 stars. The stars γ and δ are called the Aselli—the ass's
colts feeding from the silver manger.
The star β lies about 10° northeast of Procyon. Acubens, α lies on the same
line the same distance beyond β. These two stars form the tips of the
inverted "Y" which distinguishes Cancer.
An imaginary line from Capella through Pollux will point out Acubens.
Close to it are two faint stars. The Bee Hive lies within an irregular square
formed by γ, δ, η, and θ, and looks like a nebula to the naked eye.
In June, 1895, all the planets except Neptune were in this quarter of the
heavens, and Halley's comet was in this constellation on its first appearance
in 1531.
The dimness of γ and δ is an infallible precursor of rain, and if the Bee Hive
is not visible in a clear sky, it is a presage of a violent storm.

CANCER

HYDRA (hi´-dra)—THE SEA-SERPENT. (Face
South and Southwest.)
Location.—The head of Hydra, a striking and beautiful arrangement of
stars, lies just below the Bee Hive, in Cancer, 6° south of Acubens in that
constellation, and forms a rhomboidal figure of five stars.
Hydra is about 100° in length and reaches almost from Canis Minor to
Libra. Its stars are all faint except Alphard, or the Hydra's heart, a second-
magnitude star remarkable for its lonely situation, southwest of Regulus, in
Leo. A line drawn from γ Leonis through Regulus points it out. It is of a
rich orange tint. Castor and Pollux, in Gemini, point southeast to it.
The constellations Crater, the Cup, and Corvus, the Crow, both stand on the
coils of Hydra, south of Denebola, the bright star in the tail of the Lion.
Hydra is supposed to be the snake shown on a uranographic stone from the
Euphrates, 1200 b.c.
The little asterism Sextans, the Sextant, lies in the region between Regulus
and Alphard. It contains no stars brighter than the fourth magnitude.

HYDRA

LEO (le´o)—THE LION. (Face South.)
Location.—A line drawn from Pollux, in Gemini, to γ in Cancer, and
prolonged about 12°, strikes Regulus, the brilliant star in the heart of the
Lion. Regulus lies about 9° east of Acubens, in Cancer, and about 12°
northeast of Alphard, in the heart of Hydra.
Leo is one of the most beautiful constellations in the zodiac. It lies south of
the Great Bear, and its principal stars are arranged in the form of a sickle
which nearly outlines the Lion's head. This group is so striking as to be
unmistakable. Regulus is in the handle of the sickle. It is one of the stars
from which longitude is reckoned, lies almost exactly on the ecliptic, and is
visible for eight months in the year.
Denebola, the bright star in the Lion's tail, lies 25° east of Regulus, and
about 35° west of Arcturus, in Boötes. It is the same distance northwest of
Spica, in Virgo, and forms with Spica and Arcturus a large equilateral
triangle.
ζ is double, and has three faint companion stars.
ε has two seventh-magnitude companion stars, forming a beautiful little
triangle.
Regulus is white in color, γ yellow, π red.
γ is a beautiful colored telescopic double star and has a companion visible
in an opera-glass.
The figure of Leo very much as we now have it appears in all the Indian
and Egyptian zodiacs.

LEO & THE SICKLE

COMA BERENICES (kō´-ma ber-e-ni´-sez)—
BERENICE'S HAIR.
Location.—A line drawn from Regulus to Zosma, in Leo, and prolonged an
equal distance, strikes this fine cluster, which is 18° northeast of Zosma, δ
Leonis.
The group lies well within a triangle formed by Denebola, Arcturus, in
Boötes, and Cor Caroli, in Canes Venatici, which triangle is the upper half
of the Diamond of Virgo.
Twenty or thirty stars in this group can be counted with an opera-glass, and
the group can be easily distinguished with the naked eye, when the moon is
not visible.
The first half of the month of April can be called the most brilliant sidereal
period of the year. At this time eleven first-magnitude stars are visible in
this latitude at 9 p.m. From east to west they are: Vega, Arcturus, Spica,
Regulus, Pollux, Procyon, Sirius, Capella, Aldebaran, Betelgeuze, and
Rigel, truly a glorious company, an incomparable sight.

COMA BERENICES

CANIS MINOR (kā´-nis mī´-nor)—THE LESSER
DOG. (Face West.)
Location.—Procyon, the Little Dog Star, lies about 23° south of Pollux, in
Gemini. A line drawn from Nath, in Auriga, to Alhena, in Gemini, and
prolonged about 18°, reaches Procyon.
Procyon is equidistant from Betelgeuze in Orion, and Sirius in Canis Major,
and forms with them an equilateral triangle. It forms a large right-angled
triangle with Pollux and Betelgeuze.
The light from Procyon is golden yellow. Four degrees northwest of it is the
third-magnitude star Gomeisa. The glass shows two small stars forming a
right-angled triangle with it.
Procyon was distinctly mentioned by Ptolemy. It rises in this latitude a little
north of east about half an hour before Sirius, the Dog Star, hence it was
called Procyon from two Greek words which signify "before the dog."
Procyon is one of our nearest neighbors in space, at a distance of ten light
years, and is attended by a very faint companion which is only visible in the
largest telescopes.

CANIS MINOR

CORVUS (kôr´-vus)—THE CROW. (Face South.)
Location.—A line drawn from the Bee Hive, in Cancer, through Regulus, in
Leo, and prolonged about 40°, 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° northeast of Algorab.
ζ is a double star for an opera-glass. A faint pair of stars lie close below and
to the west of β. 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.
δ is an interesting telescopic double.
A line drawn from γ to β Corvi and prolonged twice its length locates the
third-magnitude star ι Centauri in the right shoulder of the Centaur. The
brightest stars in this constellation are not visible in this latitude.

CORVUS

CRATER (krā´-ter)—THE CUP. (Face South.)
Location.—Crater is situated 15° west of Corvus, and due south of θ
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°
southeast of Alphard in the heart of Hydra. It is distinguished by its forming
an equilateral triangle with α and γ, stars of the same magnitude 6° south
and east of it.
Corvus and Crater are to be seen half-way up the southern sky during the
early evenings in spring.
δ 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.

CRATER

METEORIC SHOWERS.
APRIL TO JULY.

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

(β) Aug.
Cassiopeiæ 25, etc.

The Abbreviations under Characteristics are as follows:

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

THE CONSTELLATIONS OF SUMMER.

Maps showing the principal stars visible from Lat. 40° N. at 9
o'clock, July first.

DRACO (drā´-ko)—THE DRAGON. (Face
North.)
Location.—About 10° from α Ursæ Majoris—from α to δ is 10°—slightly
south of, that is above, the line from α to Polaris, is Giansar, λ in the tip of
the Dragon's tail. Above λ, 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°
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 β, 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.

DRACO

LYRA (lī´-ra)—THE LYRE.
Location.—Lyra may be easily distinguished because of the brilliant Vega,
its brightest star, which is situated about 12° 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.
ε is a pretty double for an opera-glass, and a 3" glass reveals the duplicity of
each star of this pair. ε is therefore a double double.
ζ is a double for a good glass.
β 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 γ Lyræ.
The noted ring nebula lies between β and γ. 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.

LYRA

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° east of Vega. It forms a triangle with Vega and Altair in
Aquila—Altair being at the apex, about 35° from Deneb and Vega.
β 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.
ο Cygni has a sixth-magnitude companion, and γ 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° in Cygnus.

CYGNUS

AQUILA (ak´-wi-lä)—THE EAGLE, AND
ANTINOÜS. (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° from the other two. A triangle is formed by
Vega, Altair, and Ras Alhague, in the Serpent Bearer, which is about 30°
west of Altair.
This is a double constellation composed of Aquila and Antinoüs. Altair is in
the neck of the Eagle, Alschain in the head of Antinoüs.
When the moon is absent, a rude arrowhead can be traced out, embracing
almost all the stars in Aquila.
η 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° 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.

AQUILA & ANTINOÜS

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° 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°, strikes the star ε in the tail of the Dolphin. The four
other stars of prominence in the constellation are a little above ε, 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 γ Delphini is a fine double for a small telescope with a marked and
beautiful contrast of colors.
The names for α and β reversed spell "Nicolaus Venator," the Latinized
name of the assistant to the astronomer Piazzi.

DELPHINUS

SAGITTARIUS (saj-i-tā-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° 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. γ marks the arrow's tip.
Note the star μ, 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° 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 γ and δ, and to the east of this spot
another of narrow crescent form.
The stars φ and ζ 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.

SAGITTARIUS

OPHIUCHUS (of-i-ū-kus)—THE SERPENT
BEARER, AND SERPENS. (Face Southwest.)
Location.—A line drawn from ε Delphini to γ Aquilæ, prolonged about
30°, 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 γ. 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.

OPHIUCHUS & SERPENS

SCORPIUS (skôr´-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° southwest of Ras Alhague, in Ophiuchus,
and a little over 20° 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. λ and υ are a striking
pair and the fine clusters above them can be seen with the naked eye.
A record of a lunar occultation of β Scorpii in 295 b.c. is extant.

Note a pair just below β. They are known as ω1 and ω2.
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.

SCORPIUS

LIBRA (lī´-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, α and β, may be recognized west of and
above the head of the Scorpion.
The star ι Libræ is about 20° northwest of Antares in the Scorpion. Spica in
Virgo, a star of the first magnitude, is a little over 20° northwest of α Libræ.
A quadrilateral is formed by the stars α, β, γ, ε, which characterizes the
constellation.
The star α Libræ looks elongated. An opera-glass shows that it has a fifth-
magnitude companion.
β 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.

LIBRA

CORONA BOREALIS (kō-rō´nä bō-rē-a´-lis)—
THE NORTHERN CROWN.
Location.—A line drawn from α Cygni, to α Lyræ, and projected a little
over 40°, terminates in the Crown, which lies between Hercules and Boötes,
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 Boötes, an isosceles triangle, the vertex of which is at Arcturus.
Close to ε 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.
α Coronæ is seventy-eight light years distant and sixty times brighter than
the sun.

CORONA BOREALIS

HERCULES (her´-kū-lēz)—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° southeast of
Corona Borealis.
α Ophiuchi and α Herculis are only about 5° 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 Phœnicia.
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 ε, ζ, η, and π form a keystone shaped figure that serves to identify
the constellation.

HERCULES

BOÖTES (bō-ō´tēz)—THE HERDSMAN, OR
BEAR DRIVER. (Face West.)
Location.—Boötes 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° 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 ζ to η Ursæ
Majoris and prolonged about 30° locates it, as does one from δ Herculis to γ
Coronæ prolonged its length.
The brightest stars in Boötes 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° north of η Ursæ Majoris.
Contrast the color of Arcturus with Spica, Antares, and Vega.
The trapezium β, γ, δ, and μ, was called "The Female Wolves," by the
Arabians; θ, ι, κ and λ, "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."

BOÖTES

VIRGO (ver´-gō)—THE VIRGIN. (Face West.)
Location.—An imaginary line drawn from Antares in Scorpius through α
Libræ and prolonged a little over 20° strikes Spica, the brightest star in
Virgo, which star is about 30° southwest of Arcturus.
Arcturus, Cor Caroli, Denebola, and Spica form a figure about 50° in
length, called the Diamond of Virgo.
The equator, ecliptic, and equinoctial colure intersect each other at a point
close to the star η. This is called the autumnal equinox.
The star ε 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 ε, γ, and β, Virginis, the
telescope reveals many wonderful nebulæ; 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.
γ 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.

VIRGO

CANES VENATICI (kā´-nēz ve-nat´-i-cī)—THE
HUNTING DOGS. (Face Northwest.)
Location.—Cor Caroli, the bright star in this constellation, when on the
meridian is about 17° south of ε Ursæ Majoris. A line drawn from η Ursæ
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
Boötes, 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° north and 2½° west of Cor
Caroli, is especially noteworthy because of the flashing brilliancy of its
prismatic rays.

CANES VENATICI

METEORIC SHOWERS.
JULY TO OCTOBER.

Other Dates
Name of Radiant
Date Characteristics of Location
Shower Point
Observation
June 13-July
Vulpeculids or Between
7
Eta July 4 Cygnus and Sw. E.
Apr. 20,
Sagittids Delphinus
May 30
July 11-19,
July Near Deneb
Cygnids Sh. Sw. F. Aug. 22, July E.
19 (α) Cygni
6-Aug. 16
July 23-Aug.
Between (α) Sw. B. Sk.
(α)-(β) July 4
and after N.E.
Perseids 25 Sept. 15,
(β) Persei 10 p.m.
Nov. 13
Aquarids, a Near the
July
conspicuous water jar of Sl. B. E.
28
shower Aquarius
Perseids, fine Aug. Near (α)
v. Sw. Sk. N.E.
shower 10 Persei
Near the Jan. 17, Aug.
Kappa Aug.
Dragon's Sw. B.T. Sh. 4, S.E.
Cygnids 17
head Aug. 21-25
After 9.30
Aug. Near Capella Sept. 22,
Alpha Aurigids p.m. N.E.
21 (α) Aurigæ Oct. 2
v. Sw. Sk.
Omicron
Draconids. Near the
Aug.
Rich Dragon's Sl. T. Aug. 21-25 N
22
shower in head
1879

Between
After 10 Aug. 21, 25,
Epsilon Sept. Capella
p.m. Sept. 6-8, 21, N.E.
Perseids 7 and the
v. Sw. Sk. Nov. 29.
Pleiades
Sept. Near Hamal Aug. 12, Oct.
Alpha Arietids Sl. T. E.
21 (α) Arietis 7
Near and
Gamma Sept. July 31, Aug.
S.E. Sl. E.
Pegasids 22 25, etc.
of Great Sq.

The Perseids are of a yellowish color, and move with medium velocity.
Their line of flight is from northeast to southwest. They are probably visible
for more than a month, from the latter half of July to the last week in
August.
The August meteors are known as the "Tears of St. Lawrence."
The Abbreviations under Characteristics are as follows:

v.—very Sl.—Slow Sk.—Streak-leaving meteors.
M.—Moderately B.—BrightT.—Train-leaving meteors.
Sw.—Swift F.—Faint Sh.—Short meteors.

THE CONSTELLATIONS OF AUTUMN.

Map showing the principal stars visible from Lat. 40° N. at 9
o'clock, October first.

CASSIOPEIA (kas-i-ō-pē´-ya)—THE LADY IN
THE CHAIR. (Face North.)
Location.—A line drawn from δ Ursæ Majoris, through Polaris, strikes α
Cassiopeiæ. It is situated the same distance from Polaris as Ursa Major, and
about midway between Polaris and the zenith in the Milky Way. Cassiopeia
is characterized by a zigzag row of stars which form a rude "W," but in mid-
autumn, to an observer facing north, the "W" appears more like an "M," and
is almost overhead. Note the spot marked 1572. This is where a very
famous temporary star appeared in that year. It was bright enough at one
time to be seen in full sunshine. The star η is sixteen light years distant.
Caph is equidistant from the Pole, and exactly opposite the star Megres in
Ursa Major; with α Andromedæ and γ Pegasi it marks the equinoctial
colure. These stars are known as "The Three Guides."
The chair can be readily traced out; β, α, and γ mark three of the four
corners of the back, and δ and ε, one of the front legs. The word "Bagdei,"
made up of the letters for the principal stars, assists the memory.
The stars γ and β are pointer stars to a fifth-magnitude star the lucida of the
asterism Lacerta, the lizard about 15° from β.
Cassiopeia makes an excellent illuminated clock. When β is above Polaris it
is noon, when it is in the west at right angles to its first position it is 6 p.m.
At midnight it is on the northern horizon, and at 6 p.m. it is due east.
This is sidereal time which agrees with mean time on March 22d, and gains
on the latter at the rate of two hours a month.

CASSIOPEIA

CEPHEUS (sē´-fūs) (Face North.)
Location.—A line drawn from α to β Cassiopeiæ and prolonged about 18°
strikes α Cephei. The nearest bright star west of Polaris is γ Cephei.
Cepheus is an inconspicuous constellation, lying partly in the Milky Way. A
view of this constellation through an opera-glass will repay the observer.
Cepheus is characterized by a rude square, one side of which is the base of
an isosceles triangle. Look for the so-called garnet star μ, probably the
reddest star visible to the naked eye in the United States. The star ζ has a
blue companion star.
α forms an equilateral triangle with Polaris and ε Cassiopeiæ.
It is claimed that Cepheus was known to the Chaldæans twenty-three
centuries before our era.
Surrounding δ, ε, ζ, and λ, which mark the king's head, is a vacant space in
the Milky Way, similar to the Coal Sack of Cygnus.
About 4° from γ, in the direction of κ is a pretty pair of sixth-magnitude
stars.
Owing to precession, γ, β, and α Cephei will be successively the Pole Star
in 4500, 6000, and 7500 a.d. respectively.
δ is a double whose components are yellow and blue. It is an interesting
variable changing from magnitude 3.7 to 4.9 at intervals of 5 days 8 hours
47 minutes. As it is three times as bright at maximum as at minimum and
can be observed with the naked eye its variations are well worth observing.

CEPHEUS

PEGASUS (peg´-a-sus)—THE WINGED HORSE.
(Face South.)
Location.—One corner of the Great Square is found by drawing a line from
Polaris to Cassiopeia, and prolonging it an equal distance.
The Great Square is a stellar landmark. Three of the corners of the square
are marked by stars in Pegasus; the fourth, and northeastern, corner is
marked by the star Alpheratz in Andromeda. Each side of the square is
about 18° long.
The horse is generally seen upside down, with his fore feet projected up
into the sky. Only the head, neck, and fore feet are represented. The star
Enif marks the nose.
π is an interesting double, easily seen in an opera-glass. All the stars of the
Square are approaching us at an inconceivable speed.
The position of the asterism Equus or Equūleus, the Little Horse, or Horse's
Head, is shown in the diagram.
Delphinus, the water jar of Aquarius, and the circlet in the Western Fish, are
all in the vicinity of Pegasus, and indicated in the diagram.
The winged horse is found on coins of Corinth 500 to 430 b.c. The Greeks
called this constellation ἱπποσ.
Pegasus seems to have been regarded in Phœnicia and Egypt as the sky
emblem of a ship.
Within the area of the Square Argelander counted thirty naked-eye stars.
Note a fine pair in Equūleus just west of the star Enif in Pegasus.
The position of the equinoctial colure is defined by a line connecting
Polaris, β Cassiopeiæ, α Andromedæ, and γ Pegasi.

PEGASUS

ANDROMEDA (an-drom´-e-dä)—THE
CHAINED LADY.
Location.—The star α Alpheratz is at the northeastern corner of the great
square of Pegasus, one of the stellar landmarks.
Running east from α, at almost equal distances, are four other stars, two of
which are of the second magnitude. The most easterly one is β Persei,
known as Algol, the famous variable. Lines connecting the stars γ
Andromedæ, Algol, and α Persei form a right-angled triangle. The right
angle is marked by Algol.
The chief object of interest in this constellation is the great nebula, the first
to be discovered. It can be seen by the naked eye and it is a fine sight in an
opera-glass. Its location is indicated in the diagram.
The star γ is the radiant point of the Bielid meteors, looked for in
November. It is a colored double visible in a 3" glass.
The great nebula has been called the "Queen of the Nebulæ." It is said to
have been known as far back as a.d. 905, and it was described 986 a.d. as
the "Little Cloud."
Andromeda is very favorable for observation in September, low in the
eastern sky.
Note the characteristic "Y" shaped asterism known as Gloria Frederika or
Frederik's Glory. It lies about at the apex of a nearly isosceles triangle of
which a line connecting Alpheratz and β Pegasi is the base. A line drawn
from δ to α Cassiopeiæ and prolonged a little over twice its length points it
out.

ANDROMEDA

PERSEUS (per´-sūs)—THE CHAMPION. (Face
Northeast.)
Location.—α Persei lies on a line drawn from β to γ Andromedæ, and is
about 9° from the latter. The most striking feature in Perseus is the so-called
"segment of Perseus," a curve of stars beginning about 12° below
Cassiopeia, and curving toward Ursa Major. Note the famous variable Algol
the Demon star. It represents the Medusa's head which Perseus holds in his
hand. It varies from the second to the fourth magnitude in about three and
one-half hours, and back again in the same time, after which it remains
steadily brilliant for two and three-quarters days, when the same change
recurs. Algenib and Algol form with γ Andromedæ, a right-angled triangle.
Note a dull red star near Algol, and a pretty pair just above Algenib.
An opera-glass reveals much that is worthy of observation in this region of
the sky. It has been said of the clusters between Cassiopeia and Perseus that
they form the most striking sidereal spectacle in the northern heavens. They
are visible to the naked eye. Algenib never sets in the latitude of New York,
just touching the horizon at its lower culmination. It is estimated that Algol
is a little over a million miles in diameter, η has three faint stars on one side
nearly in a line, and one on the other—a miniature representation of Jupiter
and his satellites.
Algol, when on the meridian of New York City, is only one tenth of a
degree from the zenith point. This remarkable variable has a dark
companion star revolving near it obscuring its light in part from us at stated
intervals. By means of the spectroscope the speed diameter and mass of this
invisible star has been reckoned.

PERSEUS

PISCES (pis´ēz)—THE FISHES. (Face
Southeast.)
Location.—This constellation is represented by two fishes each with a
ribbon tied to its tail. One, the Northern Fish, lies just below β Andromedæ,
—the other, represented by the circlet, is just below Pegasus. The ribbons,
represented by streams of faint stars, from a "V" with elongated sides, and
terminate in the star Al Rischa, The Knot.
Below ω, and to the east of λ the spot marked (*) is the place which the sun
occupies at the time of the equinox. It is one of the two crossing places of
the equinoctial, or equator, of the heavens, and the ecliptic, or sun's path.
Below Pisces is Cetus, the Whale.
Pisces is thought to have taken its name from its coincidence with the sun
during the rainy season.
Three distinct conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn took place in this
constellation in the year 747 of Rome.
Pisces was considered the national constellation of the Jews, as well as a
tribal symbol.
In 1881, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus were grouped together in Pisces.
The Circlet is a very striking group forming a pentagon. The glass reveals
two faint stars in addition, making the figure seven-sided or elliptical in
form.
As to the number of the stars as classified according to their magnitude, that
is their brightness, it may be mentioned that there are approximately 20
stars of the first magnitude, 65 of the second, 300 of the third, and 450 of
the fourth. We cannot see stars fainter than the sixth magnitude with the
naked eye.

PISCES

TRIANGULUM (trī-an´-gū-lum)—THE
TRIANGLE. (Face East.)
Location.—A line drawn from the star γ Pegasi to Algol in Perseus passes
through β Trianguli.
The triangle is clearly defined and a beautiful figure. It lies just below
Andromeda, and above Aries.
Triangulum is a very ancient constellation, being formerly named Deltoton,
from the Greek letter Delta Δ.
It was in this locality that Piazzi discovered the asteroid Ceres, January 1,
1800.
α Trianguli is sometimes called "Caput Trianguli."
α and β Trianguli were known as "The Scale Beam." According to
Argelander the constellation contains fifteen stars.
The Triangle has been likened to the Trinity, and the Mitre of St. Peter.

TRIANGULUM

AQUARIUS (a-kwā´ri-us)—THE WATER
CARRIER. (Face Southwest.)
Location.—A line drawn from β Pegasi to α of the same constellation, and
prolonged as far again, ends just east of the so-called water jar of Aquarius,
which is formed by a group of four stars in the form of a "Y," as indicated in
the diagram. The Arabians called these four stars a tent.
The jar is represented as inverted, allowing a stream of water represented by
dim stars in pairs and groups of three stars, to descend, ending in the bright
star Fomalhaut, the mouth of the Southern Fish.
A rough map of South America can be traced in the stars θ, λ, τ, δ, 88, ι.
A rude dipper can be made out in the western part of the constellation,
formed of the stars α, β, ν, ε.
The stars τ and ζ are doubles. Of the former pair, one is white, the other
orange in color. Fomalhaut was the object of sunrise worship in the temple
of Demeter at Eleusis in 500 b.c. The ancients called this region of the sky
"the Sea."
In the vicinity of δ, Mayer observed in 1756 what he termed a fixed star.
Herschel thought it a comet. It proved to be the planet Uranus.
ζ is almost exactly on the celestial equator.
λ is a red star, the most prominent of the first stars in the stream. The stars
in Piscis Australis can be traced out with an opera-glass.
Fomalhaut and Capella, in Auriga, rise almost exactly at the same minute.
Fomalhaut is one of the four "royal stars" of astrology. The others are
Regulus, Antares, and Aldebaran.

AQUARIUS

CAPRICORNUS (kap-ri-kôr´-nus)—THE SEA
GOAT. (Face Southwest.)
Location.—A line drawn from α Pegasi through ζ and θ in the same
constellation, and projected about 25°, strikes α and β in Capricornus.
This constellation contains three principal stars—α and β mentioned above,
and δ about 20° east of them.
The water jar of Aquarius is about the same distance northeast of δ
Capricorni that Fomalhaut, in the Southern Fish, is southeast of it.
α has a companion which can be seen by the naked eye. It is a fine sight in
an opera-glass. These two stars are gradually separating.
β is a double star, one being blue, the other yellow.
The constellation resembles a chapeau, or peaked hat, upside down.
The stars in the head of the Sea Goat, α and β are only 2° apart, and can
hardly be mistaken by an observer facing the southwestern sky during the
early evening in autumn.
Five degrees east of δ is the point announced by Le Verrier as the position
of his predicted new planet, Neptune.
Flammarion claims that the Chinese astronomers noted the five planets in
conjunction in Capricornus, in the year 2449 b.c.
The sign of the Goat was called by the ancient Orientalists "The Southern
Gate of the Sun."

CAPRICORNUS

ARIES (ā´-ri-ēz)—THE RAM. (Face Southeast.)
Location.—The star α in Aries, known as Hamal, and sometimes as Arietis,
a star of the second magnitude, is about 7° south of α Trianguli. A line
drawn from the Pole Star to γ Andromedæ, and prolonged about 20°, ends
at Hamal.
Aries contains three principal stars, forming a characteristic obtuse-angled
triangle.
The star γ Arietis was one of the first double stars discovered. A telescope is
required to split it. Hamal lies near the path of the moon, and is one of the
stars from which longitude is reckoned.
Below Aries may be seen the characteristic pentagon in the head of Cetus,
the Whale.
More than two thousand years ago Aries was the leading constellation of
the zodiac, and now stands first in the list of zodiacal signs.
The Arabians knew this constellation as Al Hamal, the sheep.
β and γ are one instance out of many where stars of more than ordinary
brightness are seen together in pairs, the brightest star being generally on
the east.

ARIES

CETUS (sē´-tus)—THE WHALE. (Face
Southeast.)
Location.—A line drawn from Polaris, to δ Cassiopeiæ, and prolonged two
and one third times its original length, reaches the centre of this
constellation.
It lies just below Aries and the Triangle, and resembles the figure of the
prehistoric icthyosaurus, while some see in the outline an easy chair. The
head of the beast is characterized by a clearly traced pentagon, about 20°
southeast of Aries. The brightest star in the constellation is α of the second
magnitude. It is at one apex of the pentagon, about 15° east of Al Rischa in
Pisces, and 37° directly south of Algol.
The noted variable Mira also known as ο Ceti is the chief object of interest
in this constellation.
It was discovered by Fabricius in 1596 and varies from the ninth magnitude
to the third or fourth in a period of 334 days. It can be observed during its
entire range with a 3" glass.
In 1779 Mira is reported to have been as bright as the first-magnitude star
Aldebaran. It lies almost exactly on a line joining γ and ζ Ceti a little nearer
the former. Ten degrees south of it are four faint stars about 3° apart
forming a square.
τ Ceti is one of our nearest neighbors at a distance of nine light years.
ζ is a naked-eye double star.

CETUS

MUSCA (mus´-kä)—THE FLY. (Face Southeast.)
Location.—Musca lies between Triangulum and Aries, the diagram clearly
defining its position.
The four stars composing it form a group shaped like the letter "Y."
There is nothing of particular interest to be noted in this asterism. It does
not appear on modern star charts and is considered obsolete.
So great is the distance that separates us from the stars that as for the great
majority had they been blotted out of existence before the Christian era, we
of to-day should still receive their light and seem to see them just as we do.
When we scan the nocturnal skies we study ancient history. We do not see
the stars as they are but as they were centuries on centuries ago.

MUSCA

METEORIC SHOWERS.
OCTOBER TO JANUARY.

Other Dates
Name of
Date Radiant Point Characteristics of Location
Shower
Observation
Between
Great
Oct.
Ursids Bear's head Sw. Sk. Aug. 20-24 N.
4
and
Polaris
Epsilon
East of Oct. 11-24,
Arietids Oct.
Hamal, M. Sw. Oct. 30- E.
Rich shower 14
near Musca Nov. 4
1877
Near Alhena
Orionids Oct. After 11 p.m.
in Oct. 16-22 E.
Fine shower 18 Sw. Sk.
Gemini
Near Castor Nov. 7,
Delta Oct. After 10 p.m.
and Dec. 4, N.E.
Geminids 29 v. Sw. Sk.
Pollux Oct. 16-22
(e) Taurids. About 13°
Nov.
Rich S.E. Sl. B.T. Nov. 2-3 E.
2
shower in 1886 of Aldebaran
After
Leonids Near (γ)
Nov. midnight.
Brilliant Leonis Nov. 12-14 N.E.
13 v. Sw.
shower In the Sickle
Sk.
Leo Minorids Nov. Near (μ) After 10 p.m. Sept. 15, N.
16 Ursæ v. Sw. Sk. Oct. 16
Maj., the
Great

Bear's hind
feet
Andromedids.
Nov. Near (γ) Nov. 17-23
The Bielids. Sl. T. Overhead
27 Andromedæ Nov. 21-28
Fine display
Between Aug. 16
Nov.
Taurids Capella V. Sw. Sept. 15, Overhead
30
and (α) Persei Nov. 20
Zeta Taurids. Near the
Dec.
Active shower horns Sl. B. E.
6
in 1876 of the Bull
Geminids. Dec.
Near Castor Sw. Dec. 1-14 E.
Fine shower 10
Kappa Dec. Near Thuban Nov. 14-23
Sw. Sk.
Draconids 22 (α) Draconis Dec. 18-29
Nov. 29
Fire Ball Dates Dec. 2, 19,
21

The Andromedes are usually red, sluggish in their movements, and leave
only a small train.
Brilliant displays were seen in 1872 and 1885.
The Leonids are characterized by their exceedingly swift flight. They are of
a greenish or bluish tint and leave behind them a vivid and persistent train.
In most years the display is not especially noteworthy. Once in thirty-three
years they afford an exhibition grand beyond description as in 1833 and
1866.

THE CONSTELLATIONS OF WINTER.

Map showing the principal stars visible from Lat. 40° N. at 9 o'clock,
January first.

TAURUS (tâ´-rus)—THE BULL. (Face
Southwest.)
Location.—Taurus contains the well-known and unmistakable group the
Pleiades, on the right shoulder of the Bull. A "V" shaped group known as
the Hyades is just to the southeast of the Pleiades, in the face of the Bull,
forming one of the most beautiful objects in the sky.
The brightest star in Taurus is Aldebaran, a ruddy-hued star known as "The
Follower." It is at the beginning of the "V" in the Hyades, and is at the apex
of a triangle formed by Capella, in Auriga, and α Persei, and equally distant
from them both.
The star β called Nath, is peculiarly white, and is common to Taurus and
Auriga. It represents the tip of one of the Bull's horns, and the right foot of
the Charioteer. The Pleiades are mentioned in Chinese annals in 2357 b.c.
On a photograph of the group over 2000 stars have been counted.
The ecliptic passes a little south of a point midway between the two horns,
where a scattered and broken stream of minute stars can be seen.
Note two pretty pairs in the Hyades, one south of Aldebaran, the other
northwest of it.
There are rich clusters below the tip of the horn over Orion's head.
Taurus was an important object of worship by the Druids.
Aldebaran is near one eye of the Bull, and used to be called "The Bull's
Eye." An occultation of it by the moon, which not infrequently occurs, is a
striking phenomenon.
The Eskimos regard the Pleiades as a team of dogs in pursuit of a bear. The
group is receding from us at the rate of thirteen miles a second and has a
common eastward motion of about ten seconds a century.

TAURUS

ORION (ŏ-rī´-on)—THE GIANT HUNTER.
(Face South.)
Location.—Orion is considered the finest constellation in the heavens. A
line drawn from Nath to ζ Tauri (the tips of the Bull's horns), and extended
15°, strikes the brilliant Betelgeuze in Orion, known as the martial star. It
forms the northeast corner of a conspicuous parallelogram. The splendid
first-magnitude star Rigel is diagonally opposite Betelgeuze, and the girdle
and sword of the Hunter lie within the parallelogram, a very striking group.
The former is represented by three bright stars in a line 3° long known as
the "Three Stars," because there are no other stars in the heavens that
exactly resemble them in position and brightness.
In the sword there is the most remarkable nebula in the heavens. It may be
seen with an opera-glass and in a telescope it is a wonderful sight. Bellatrix
is called the Amazon star. Note the contrasting colours of α and β.
About 9° west of Bellatrix are eight stars in a curved line running north and
south. These point out the Lion's skin held in the Hunter's left hand.
Below λ there are two stars forming a triangle with it. Flammarion calls this
region the California of the sky.
The celestial equator passes nearly through δ.
Orion was worshipped in China during the one thousand years before our
era, and was known to the Chinese as the "White Tiger."
The Eskimos see in the Belt stars the three steps cut by some celestial
Eskimo in a steep snow bank to enable him to reach the top.

ORION

LEPUS (lē´-pus)—THE HARE. (Face South.)
Location.—Lepus crouches under Orion's feet. Four stars in the
constellation form an irregular and conspicuous quadrilateral.
γ is a beautiful double of a greenish hue.
Four or five degrees south of Rigel are four faint stars which are in the ear
of the hare. They can be seen on a clear night with the naked eye.
The curved line of three stars θ, η, and ζ, are in the back of the hare.
Lepus is about 18° west of Canis Major, and, by reason of the earth's
motion, the Great Dog seems to be pursuing the Hare around the heavens.
The first-magnitude stars that are visible in the winter season in this latitude
present a fine contrast in color. Even the untrained eye can see a decided
difference between the bluish white color of the brilliant Sirius, the Dog star
that the Belt stars point south to, and Rigel, and the ruddy Betelgeuze.
Procyon has a yellowish tinge and resembles the condition of our sun, while
Betelgeuze is surrounded by heavy metallic vapors and is thought to be
approaching extinction.
R marks the location of "Hind's crimson star," a famous variable.

LEPUS

COLUMBA NOACHI (co-lum´-bä nō-ä´-ki)—
NOAH'S DOVE. (Face South.)
Location.—Columba is situated just south of Lepus. A line drawn from
Rigel, in Orion, to β Leporis, and prolonged as far again, ends near α and β,
the two brightest stars in Columba.
A line drawn from the easternmost star in the belt of Orion, 32° directly
south, will point out Phaet, in Columba. It makes with Sirius, in Canis
Major, and Naos, in the Ship, a large equilateral triangle.
The star β Columbæ may be known by means of a smaller star just east of
it, marked γ.
The Chinese call α Chang Jin, the old Folks. Lockyer thinks it was of
importance in Egyptian temple worship, and observed from Edfu and Philæ
as far back as 6400 b.c.
On a clear starlight night there are not more than a thousand stars visible to
the naked eye at one time. The largest telescope reveals nearly a hundred
million.

COLUMBA

CANIS MAJOR (kā´-nis mā-jor)—THE
GREATER DOG. (Face South.)
Location.—The three stars in Orion's girdle point southeast to Sirius, the
dog star, in Canis Major, the most brilliant star in the heavens. It was
connected in the minds of the Egyptians with the rising of the Nile, and is
receding from the earth at the rate of twenty miles a second.
The star ν is a triple. The cluster (41 M.) can be seen with an opera-glass,
just below it.

Between δ and ο1 note a remarkable array of minute stars, also the very red
star 22.
δ and ζ are doubles for an opera-glass.
Below η there is a fine group.
Betelgeuze, in Orion, Procyon, in Canis Minor, and Sirius form a nearly
equilateral triangle. These stars with Naos, in the Ship, and Phaet, in the
Dove, form a huge figure known as the Egyptian "X."
From earliest times Sirius has been known as the Dog of Orion. It is 324
times brighter than the average sixth-magnitude star, and is the nearest to
the earth of all the stars in this latitude, its distance being 8.7 light years. At
this distance the Sun would appear as a star a little brighter than the Pole
Star.

CANIS MAJOR

ARGO NAVIS (är´-go nā´-vis)—THE SHIP
ARGO. (Face South.)
Location.—Argo is situated southeast of Canis Major. If a line joining
Betelgeuze and Sirius be prolonged 18° southeast, it will point out Naos, a
star of the second magnitude in the rowlock of the Ship. This star is in the
southeast corner of the Egyptian "X."
The star π is of a deep yellow or orange hue. It has three little stars above it,
two of which form a pretty pair.
The star ζ has a companion, which is a test for an opera-glass.
The star κ is a double for an opera-glass.
Note the fine star cluster (46 M.).
The star Markeb forms a small triangle with two other stars near it.
The Egyptians believed that this was the ark that bore Osiris and Isis over
the Deluge.
The constellation contains two noted objects invisible in this latitude,
Canopus, the second brightest star, and the remarkable variable star η.

PUPPIS

MONOCEROS (mō-nos´-e-ros)—THE
UNICORN. (Face South.)
Location.—Monoceros is to be found east of Orion between Canis Major
and Canis Minor. Three of its stars of the fourth magnitude form a straight
line northeast and southwest, about 9° east of Betelgeuze, and about the
same distance south of Alhena, in Gemini.
The region around the stars 8, 13, 17 is particularly rich when viewed with
an opera-glass.
Note also a beautiful field about the variable S, and a cluster about midway
between α and β.
Two stars about 7° apart in the tail of the Unicorn are pointer stars to
Procyon. These stars are known as 30 and 31. The former is about 16° east
of Procyon, and is easily identified as it has a sixth-magnitude star on either
side of it. About 4° southwest of this star a good field-glass will reveal a
beautiful star cluster.

MONOCEROS

ERIDANUS (ē-rid´-a-nus)—OR THE RIVER PO.
(Face Southwest.)
Location.—Three degrees north and 2° west of Rigel, in Orion, lies β
Eridani, the source of the River. Thence it flows west till it reaches π Ceti,
then drops south 5°, thence east southeast, its total length being about 130°.
The great curve the River takes, just east of the Whale, resembles a
horseshoe.
Acherna, the first-magnitude star in Eridanus, is too far south to be seen in
this latitude.
Note the pretty star group around β and a pair of stars of an orange hue
below ν.
The asterism known as "The Brandenburg Sceptre," consisting of four stars
of the fourth and fifth magnitudes, can be seen arranged in a straight line
north and south below the first bend in the River just west of Lepus.

ERIDANUS

METEORIC SHOWERS.
JANUARY TO APRIL.

Other Dates
Name of
Date Radiant Point Characteristics of Location
Shower
Observation
(44) Boötis,
Quadrantids.
between
Rich annual Jan. 2 M. Sw. B. Jan 3. E.
Boötes and
shower
Dragon's head
Jan. (ζ) Cancri,
Zeta Cancrids E.
2-4 near Bee Hive
About 10°
from β Small
Theta Ursids Jan. 5 Jan. 2-8 N.
away from γ Sh. Sw. F.
Ursæ Maj.
Alpha Near Thuban Jan. 9
Feb. 1 Sl. N.
Draconids α Draconis Dec. 8
High in
Alpha Near Capella Aug. 21
Feb. 7 Sl. Southern
Aurigids α Aurigæ Sept. 12-22
Sky
τ Leonis, Nov. 27
Feb.
Tau Leonids between Leo Sl. Sk. Dec. 12 E.
16
and Crater Mar. 1-4
Near Cor
Alpha Canum
Feb. Caroli
Ven. Well V. Sw. B. E.
20 and Coma
defined 1877
Berenices
Mar. Between α July—Dec.
α-β Perseids V. Sl. N.W.
1 and β Persei Mar. 13-19
Beta Leonids
Mar. Near Denebola Mar. 3, 4
or Sl. B. S.E.
14 β Leonis Dec. 12
Beta Virginids

Kappa Mar. Oct. 4-17
Near Polaris Sl. B. N.
Cepheids 18 Mar. 13-19
Apr. 10-16
Mar. Near β Mar. 13-14
Beta Ursids Sw. N.
24 Ursæ Maj. Dec. 2-9
Precise
July 29
Zeta Mar. Near the
Sl. Aug. 24, N.
Draconids 28 Dragon's Head
etc.

The Abbreviations under Characteristics are as follows:

V. Very Sh. Short
M. Moderately B. Bright
Sw. Swift F. Faint
Sl. Slow Sk. Streak leaving meteors
T. Train leaving meteors

If you know the constellations, and memorize the following rhyme you will
have ever at hand for reference at night, a reliable time-piece, a compass,
and a perpetual calendar.
The numbers above the star names indicate consecutively the months of the
year in which these respective objects rise about the first instant in the
eastern sky. In addition to first-magnitude stars the rhyme refers to the head
of Capricornus, the Sea Goat, the Great Square of Pegasus, and Orion's
Belt. All except Arcturus rise between 9 and 9.30 p.m. Arcturus rises at 10
p.m., February 1st.

1
First Regulus gleams on the view,
2 3 4
Arcturus, Spica, Vega, blue,
5 6
Antares, and Altair,
7 8 9
The Goat's head, Square, and Fomalhaut,

10 11
Aldebaran, the Belt, a-glow,
12
Then Sirius most fair.

Eight months of the year are identified by the position of the Dipper at 9
p.m. In April and May it is north of the zenith. During July and August it is
west of north. In October and November it lies close to the northern horizon
and in January and February it is east of north with the pointers highest.

THE PLANETS.
It is not within the scope of this work to dwell at length on a discussion of
the planets. Certain explanatory matter regarding them is necessary,
however, to prevent confusion; for the student must bear in mind the fact
that from time to time the planets appear in the constellations, and unless
identified would lead him to think that the diagrams were inaccurate.
The reader is referred to any one of the four large plates that precede each
season. He will observe that a portion of an ellipse has been traced on each
of them, and that this line has been designated the Ecliptic, which simply
means the sun's apparent pathway across the sky.
This pathway is divided into twelve equal parts of thirty degrees each, and
to these twelve divisions are given the names of the constellations of the
Zodiac in the following order: Aries (♈), Taurus (♉), Gemini (♊), Cancer
( ♋ ), Leo ( ♌ ), Virgo ( ♍ ), Libra ( ♎ ), Scorpio ( ♏ ), Sagittarius ( ♐ ),
Capricornus (♑), Aquarius (♒), Pisces (♓).
The sun, starting from the first degree of Aries, the first day of spring,
passes through one constellation a month. The planets follow the same
pathway.
Confusion, therefore, respecting their identity can only arise in connection
with a study of one of the twelve constellations named above, so that
whenever a star of any size is seen in one of these constellations, not
accounted for in the diagram, the student may conclude that this is a planet;
especially if the unknown star does not twinkle. It now remains to identify
the planet.
This can best be done by referring to an almanac, which states what planets
are above the horizon, and which are morning and evening stars. By
morning star is meant that the planet is east of the sun; by evening star, that
it is west of the sun.

If the planet is in the west, and very brilliant, it is safe to assume that it is
the planet Venus.
If it is brighter than any of the fixed stars, and is some distance from the
sun, it is doubtless the colossal Jupiter.
If it is very red, it will probably be Mars.
Saturn is distinguished because of its pale, steady, yellow light.
As for Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune, the former is very near the sun, and
seldom seen; while Uranus and Neptune are so inconspicuous as to lead to
no confusion on the part of the novice.
A few notes of interest relative to the planets follow, taking them up in
regular order passing outward from the sun: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Mercury.

Mercury is the nearest to the sun of any of the planets. On this account, and
because of its rapid changes, it is seldom seen.
The most favorable time for observing it is just after sunset, or just before
sunrise, during the months of March, April, August, and September, when it
may be seen for a few successive days.
The greatest distance it ever departs from the sun on either side varies
approximately from sixteen to twenty-eight degrees. Its motion resembles a
pendulum, swinging from one side of the sun to the other.

Venus.

Venus approaches nearer to the earth and is more brilliant than any other
planet. It is bright enough to cast a shadow at night, and is sometimes
visible even at noonday. It is almost as large as the earth, and appears to
oscillate, as Mercury does, on either side of the sun.
It never appears more than three hours after sunset, and as long before the
sunrise, and is never more than forty-eight degrees from the sun.

Mars.

Mars is most like the earth of any of the planets, and, although not as
interesting an object to view as the more brilliant planets, Venus and Jupiter,
it claims our attention chiefly because of the surmises respecting its
habitability.
Mars appears to the naked eye as a bright red star, and when at a favorable
opposition to the earth (which occurs only once in every fifteen years) it
rivals Jupiter in splendor.
The planet may be mistaken for the first magnitude stars, Antares in
Scorpius, and Aldebaran in Taurus, near which it frequently passes.
The fixed stars, however, twinkle, while Mars glows steadily. If there is any
doubt in the student's mind as to the identity of the planet, a few nights of
observation, noting the changes in the planet's position, will decide the
point. It takes Mars about fifty-seven days to pass through one constellation
in the Zodiac.

Jupiter.

Jupiter is the largest of all the planets in the solar system, and it is easily
distinguished from the fixed stars because of its brilliancy and splendor,
exceeding in brightness all the planets excepting Venus, and casting a
perceptible shadow.
It moves slowly and majestically across the sky, advancing through the
Zodiac at the rate of one constellation yearly. It is therefore a simple matter
to forecast its position, for, in whatever constellation it is seen to-day, one
year hence it will be seen equally advanced in the next constellation.
Although Jupiter appears to move slowly, it really travels at the
incomprehensible rate of five hundred miles a minute.
The most interesting feature about Jupiter for the amateur astronomer
consists in observing four of its moons, which are visible with a small
telescope. They appear like mere dots of light, and their transit of or
occultation with the planet (that is, their disappearance before or behind its

disk) can be watched, and is a never failing source of pleasure. A large
telescope alone reveals Jupiter's four other moons.

Saturn.

Saturn is farther removed from the earth than any of the planets in the solar
system, visible to the naked eye. It is distinguished from the fixed stars by
the steadiness of its light, which is dull and of a yellow hue, though to some
it appears to be of a greenish tinge. It seems barely to move, so slow is its
motion among the stars, for it takes two and one half years to pass through a
single constellation of the Zodiac.
Saturn has eight moons. Titan, its largest one, can be seen with a 3" glass.
Its celebrated rings are telescopic objects but a small glass reveals them.

Uranus.

The student will hardly mistake Uranus for a fixed star, as it is only under
the most favorable circumstances that it can be seen with the naked eye.
At its nearest approach to the earth, it is as bright as a sixth-magnitude star.
Uranus is accompanied by four moons, and takes seven years to pass
through a constellation of the Zodiac.

Neptune.

Neptune is the most distant of the planets in the solar system, and is never
visible to the naked eye.
The earth comes properly under a discussion of the planets, but a
description of it is hardly within the scope of this work.
Confusion in identifying the planets is really confined to Mars and Saturn,
for Venus and Jupiter are much brighter than any of the fixed stars, and their
position in the heavens identifies them, as we have seen before.
The following table of first-magnitude stars in the Zodiacal constellations
confines the question of identifying the planets to a comparison of the

unknown star with the following-named stars:

Castor and Pollux in Gemini.
Spica " Virgo.
Regulus " Leo.
Aldebaran " Taurus.
Antares " Scorpius.

The first four stars named above are white in color, so that either Mars or
Saturn is readily distinguished from them.
As for Aldebaran and Antares, which are both red stars, not unlike Mars and
Saturn in color and magnitude, the fact that the latter do not twinkle, and
that they do not appear in the diagrams, should satisfy the observer of their
identity. Reference to an almanac, or a few nights of observation, will in
any case set at rest any doubt in the matter.

THE PLANETARY ORBITS

COMPARATIVE SIZE OF THE PLANETS.

THE MILKY WAY.
The Milky Way, or Galaxy as it is sometimes called, is a great band of light
that stretches across the heavens. Certain portions of it are worthy of being
viewed with an opera-glass, which separates this seemingly confused and
hazy stream into numberless points of light, emanating from myriads of
suns.
This wonderful feature of the heavens is seen to best advantage during the
months of July, August, September, and October. Beginning near the head
of Cepheus, about thirty degrees from the North Pole, it passes through
Cassiopeia, Perseus, Auriga, part of Orion, and the feet of Gemini, where it
crosses the Ecliptic, and thence continues into the southern hemisphere,
beyond our ken in these latitudes.
It reappears in two branches in the region of Ophiuchus, one running
through the tail of Scorpius, the bow of Sagittarius, Aquila, Delphinus, and
Cygnus; the other above and almost parallel to it, uniting with the first
branch in Cygnus, and passing to Cepheus, the place of beginning.
The student should note especially the strange gap between α, γ, and ε
Cygni. This dark space has been called the "Coal Sack."
The Milky Way in the vicinity of Cassiopeia is particularly rich, and well
repays a search with an opera-glass.
"The Galaxy covers more than one tenth of the visible heavens, contains
nine-tenths of the visible stars, and seems a vast zone-shaped nebula, nearly
a great circle of the sphere, the poles being at Coma and Cetus."

THE MOTIONS OF THE STARS.
It may be that the student desires to proceed in this conquest of the sky at a
more rapid pace than the scheme of study permits. To assist such, it should
be borne in mind that the circumpolar constellations, as Ursa Major, Ursa
Minor, Draco, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia, are designated,—are visible in our
latitude in the northern sky every night.
A reference to their diagrams, and a glance at any of the large plates
showing the entire group in their respective positions, will suffice for the
student to identify them.
The hours of darkness alone limit the speed with which a knowledge of the
constellations can be acquired.
Let us suppose that the student begins his search for the constellations on
the night of April 1st, at nine p.m. He has for his guide the large plate, and
the spring group of eleven constellations set forth in the diagrams. The
remaining three constellations of the circumpolar group are, as we have
seen before, visible in the north.
If he faces the western sky, he will see Andromeda just setting, and Perseus,
Taurus, Orion, Lepus, and Canis Major but a short distance above the
horizon. If he is so fortunate as to be able to identify these, and the spring
group, he may turn his attention wholly to the eastern sky, where new
constellations await him.
In the southeast he may see Virgo. In the east well up blazes Arcturus, the
gem of Boötes, below which is the beautiful Northern Crown, with the
diamond in the head of Serpens beneath it. Hercules is rising, and Vega in
the Lyre should be seen just flashing on the view in the northeast.
This completes the list of wonders visible at this precise time, but the stars
apparently are never still, and doubtless, while the student has been passing
from one constellation to another in the western and southern skies, others
have been rising in the east and northeast.

At ten p.m. the Lyre is well up, and Ophiuchus and Libra can be discerned.
At midnight Scorpius and Cygnus are ready to claim the attention. By two
o'clock a.m., Aquila, Delphinus, and Sagittarius have risen, and at break of
day Andromeda, Pegasus, and Capricornus can be seen if the student has
had the courage to remain awake this length of time.
In no way can the seeming movement of the stars be better understood than
by actual observation. The observer must bear in mind that the movement is
an apparent one: that it is the earth that is moving and not the stars. He has
only to think of the analogy of the moving train beside the one that is
standing still, and the true state of affairs will at once be evident.
To further appreciate this apparent change in the situation of the
constellations, the student should refer to the large plates successively. In
each successive one he will note the advancement westward of the
constellations mentioned above, rising in the east late at night.
The student can best get an idea of this westward apparent movement of the
stars by noting the position of some bright first-magnitude star from night
to night. He will soon be able to calculate the position of this star a month
or more ahead, and this calculation applies to all the constellations and
stars.
It is not within the scope of this work to go into this matter in detail. The
author merely desires to mention this fact of apparent change of position in
the stars, a fact that will be noticeable to the observer in a short time, and a
fact that it is hoped he will be able to explain to his own satisfaction with
the aid of the foregoing remarks.
It will be noticed that the stars on the diagrams are all numbered and
lettered. The numbers refer to the magnitude of the star,—that is, the
brightness of it, the first-magnitude stars being the brightest, the second-
magnitude stars two-and-a-half times less bright, etc.
The letters are those of the Greek alphabet, and the student if not familiar
with it is advised to consult a Greek grammar.
In the text, in referring to certain stars in the constellations, the genitive
case of the Latin name of the constellation is given; for example, Vega is

known as α Lyrae, meaning alpha of Lyra, Aldebaran as α Tauri, alpha of
Taurus, etc.
The twilight hour affords an excellent opportunity of fixing the relative
positions of the first-magnitude stars in the mind, for at that time they alone,
save the planets, are visible.

METEORS, OR SHOOTING-STARS.
As this work is designed primarily to cover what is observable in the starlit
heavens with the naked eye, the subject of meteors, or shooting-stars,
comes properly within its scope.
There are few persons, if any, who have not witnessed the sight of a
splendid meteor speeding across the sky, and such a sight always calls forth
exclamations of wonder and delight.
Apparently these evanescent wanderers in space are without distinctive
features, and baffle classification; but, like all that nature reveals to us, they
have been found, for the most part, to conform to certain laws, and to bear
certain marks of resemblance that permit of their identification and
classification.
By careful observation for over fifty years the meteors, generally speaking,
have been so arranged that they come under the head of one of the nearly
three hundred distinct showers which are now recognized by astronomers.
Many of these showers are too feeble and faint to be worthy of the attention
of one not especially interested in the subject, but certain ones are well
worth observing. There is always a pleasure in being able to recognize at a
glance a certain definite manifestation of nature, be it a rare flower or a
flashing meteor.
The generally accepted theory respecting the meteors is that they were all
originally parts of comets now disintegrated, and the four well-known
showers of April 20th, August 10th and 14th, and November 27th, bear
testimony to this theory.
The apparent velocity of the meteors is between ten and forty-five miles a
second, and their average height is about seventy-six miles at first
appearance, and fifty-one miles at disappearance. Occasionally a meteor is
so large and compact as to escape total destruction, and falls to the earth.
Specimens of these meteorites are to be found in our best museums.

I have seen fit to divide the principal meteor showers into four groups,
according to the seasons in which they appear, and have placed them
respectively at the conclusion of each season's work on the constellations.
By radiant point is meant the point from which the meteors start on their
flight. This point is an apparent one, however, due to an illusion of
perspective, for the meteors really approach the earth in parallel paths.
The dates given for these showers are those of the maxima, and the meteors
should be looked for several nights before and after the dates specified.
The showers that are to be seen after midnight are, unless of special note,
omitted.
There are, besides the meteors that have been classified, certain shooting-
stars that apparently have no determined radiant point. These are called
sporadic meteors.
In these lists of meteors, the radiant point is only approximately given; for
scientific purposes a far more exact position is required in terms of right
ascension and declination. There are several good lists of meteoric showers
to be obtained, which afford this information for those who care to pursue
the matter more in detail. See the Rev. T.W. Webb's book, entitled Celestial
Objects for Common Telescopes. For purposes of identification, the radiant
points here given will be found for the most part sufficient.
NOTE.
Many readers of this book may be the fortunate possessors of
small telescopes. It may be that they have observed the heavens
from time to time in a desultory way and have no notion that
valuable and practical scientific research work can be
accomplished with a small glass. If those who are willing to aid
in the great work of astrophysical research will communicate
with the author he will be pleased to outline for them a most
practical and fascinating line of observational work that will
enable them to share in the advance of our knowledge respecting
the stars. It is work that involves no mathematics, and its details
are easily mastered.

THE NAMES OF THE STARS AND THEIR
MEANINGS.
Acubens, α Cancri, "the claws."

Situated in one of the Crab's claws. It is white in color and
culminates[1] March 18th.

A-dar´-a, ε Canis Majoris, "the virgins," a name for four stars, of which
Adara is brightest.

Situated in the Dog's right thigh. It is pale orange in color, and
culminates Feb. 11th.

Adhil, ε Andromedæ, "the train of a garment."

Situated in the left shoulder of the chained lady.

Aladfar (al-ad-fär), μ Lyræ, "the talons" (of the falling eagle)
Al Bali, ε Aquarii, "the good fortune of the swallower."
Al-bi´-reo, or Al-bir´ë-o β Cygni, origin doubtful. Means the beak of the
hen.

Situated in the beak of the Swan and the base of the Cross. Its color is
topaz yellow, and it culminates Aug. 28th.

Alcaid, η Ursæ Majoris. See Benetnasch.
Alchiba (al-kē-bä´), α Corvi, "the tent," the desert title for the constellation.

Situated in the eye of the Crow. Orange in color.

Alcor (al´-kôr), g Ursæ Majoris, "the cavalier" or "the rider."

Situated close to Mizar in the handle of the "Dipper." Silver white in
color. The Arabs called this star "Saidak," meaning "the proof,"
because they used it to test a good eye.

Al-cy´-o-ne, η Tauri.

Greenish yellow in color. The brightest of the Pleiades. Situated in the
neck of the Bull.

Al-deb´-a-ran, α Tauri, "the hindmost" or the "follower," i.e. of the
Pleiades.

Situated in the eye of the Bull. Pale rose in color. It is receding from
the earth at the rate of thirty miles per second, and culminates Jan. 10.

α Tauri is sometimes called Palilicium.

Alderamin (Al-der-am´-in), α Cephei "the right arm." It now marks the
shoulder of Cepheus.

White in color. It culminates Sept. 27th.

Aldhafera, ζ Leonis.

Situated in the "Sickle," and the neck of the Lion. It culminates April
8th.

Alfirk (al-ferk´), or Alphirk, "stars of the flock," β Cephei.

The Arab name for the constellation. Situated in the girdle of Cepheus.
White in color. It culminates Oct. 2d.

Algeiba (al-jē´-bä), γ Leonis, "the mane."

Situated in the "Sickle," and the shoulder of the Lion. It is approaching
the earth at the rate of twenty-four miles per second, and culminates
April 9th.

Al´-ge-nib, γ Pegasi, "the wing," possibly the "flank" or "side."

Situated in the wing of the Horse. White in color, and culminates Nov.
14th.

Al´-ge-nib, α Persei, "the side," or Mirfak, "the elbow."

Situated in the right side of Perseus. Lilac in color and approaching the
earth at the rate of six miles per second. It culminates Jan. 1st. This
star is also called Alchemb.

Algenubi (al-je-nö´-bi), ε Leonis, "the head of the Lion."

A yellow star situated in the Lion's mouth.

Al´-gol, β Persei, "the ghoul" or "demon."

Situated in the head of the Medusa held in the Hero's left hand. White
in color. It is approaching the earth at the rate of one mile per second,
and culminates Dec. 23d.

Algorab (al-go-räb´), or Algores, (δ) Corvi, "the raven."

Situated on the right wing of the Crow. Pale yellow in color. It
culminates May 14th.

Alhena (al-hen´-a), γ Geminorum, "a brand on the right side of the camel's
neck," or a "ring" or "circlet."

Situated in the left foot of Pollux. White in color, and culminates Feb.
8th. Alhena is sometimes called Almeisam.

Al-i-oth, ε Ursæ Majoris, disputed derivation.

Situated in the tail of the Great Bear. It is approaching the earth at the
rate of nineteen miles per second. It culminates May 20th. Alioth, the
name sometimes given to α and θ Serpentis.

Al-kaid (al-kād), See Alcaid.
Alkalurops (al-ka-lū´-rops), μ Boötis, "a herdsman's club, crook, or staff."

Situated near the right shoulder of the Herdsman. Its color is flushed
white.

Alkes (al´-kes), α Crateris, from Al Kas, "the cup," the Arab name for the
constellation.

Situated in the base of the Cup. Orange in color, and culminates April
20th.

Almac, γ Andromedæ, "a badger," possibly "the boot."

Situated in the left foot of Andromeda. Orange in color, and culminates
Dec. 8th.

Al Naaim, τ and ν Pegasi, "the cross bars over a well."
Al Nasl (al-nas´l), or Elnasl (el-nas´-l), γ Sagittarii, "the point head of the
arrow."

Situated in the arrow's tip. It is yellow in color, and culminates Aug.
4th. This star sometimes called Nushaba and Warida.

Al Nath, or Nath γ Aurigæ, and β Tauri, "the heel of the rein-holder," the
"butter" i.e. the "horn."

Situated in the right foot of the Charioteer, and the tip of the northern
horn of the Bull. Brilliant white in color, and culminates Dec. 11th.

Alnilam (al-ni-lam´), ε Orionis, "a belt of spheres or pearls."

Situated in Orion's belt. It is bright white in color, and is receding from
the earth at the rate of sixteen miles per second. It culminates Jan.
25th.

Alnitak (al-ni-tak´), ζ Orionis, "the girdle."

Situated in Orion's belt. Topaz yellow in color. It is receding from the
earth at the rate of nine miles per second, and culminates Jan. 26th.

Al-Niyat, σ Scorpii, "the outworks of the heart."

Situated near the Scorpion's heart. It is creamy white in color.

Al´-phard or (al-färd´), α Hydræ, "the solitary one in the serpent."

Situated in the heart of Hydra. Orange in color, and culminates Mar.
26th. The Chinese called this star "the Red Bird."

Al-phec´-ca, α Coronæ Borealis, "the bright one of the dish." See Gemma.
Century Dictionary gives meaning "the cup or platter of a dervish."
Al´-phe-ratz or (al-fe-rats´), α Andromedæ, "the head of the woman in
chains." "The navel of the horse."

Situated in the head of Andromeda. White and purplish in color. It
culminates Nov. 10th. Alpheratz is some times called Sirrah.

Al-phirk, β Cephei, from al-Firk, the flock.
Al Rakis, μ Draconis, "the dancer."

Situated in the Dragon's nose. Brilliant white in color. The Century
Dictionary gives for this star Arrakis, "The trotting camel."

Al Rescha, α Piscium, "the cord or knot."

Situated in the knot joining the ribbons that hold the Fishes together.
Pale green in color, and culminates Dec. 7th.

Alsafi σ Draconis.
Alschain (al-shān´), β Aquilæ, part of the Arab name for the constellation.

Situated in the head of Antinoüs. Pale orange in color, and culminates
Sept. 3d.

Al Shat, ν Capricorni, "the sheep."

Al´-tair, or Atair, α Aquilæ, "the flying eagle," part of the Arab name for
the constellation.

Situated in the neck of the Eagle. Yellow in color, and culminates Sept.
1st.

Alterf (al-terf´), λ Leonis, "the glance," i.e. the Lion's eye.

Situated in the Lion's mouth, the point of the Sickle. Red in color.

Aludra (al-ö´-dra), η Canis Majoris, "the virgins." The four stars near each
other in Canis Major.

Situated in the Great Dog's tail. Pale red in color, and culminates Feb.
21st.

Alula Borealis, ν Ursæ Majoris.
Alula Australis, ζ Ursæ Majoris The "northern and southern wing."

Situated in the Southern hind foot of the Great Bear. The latter star is
sometimes called El Acola.

Al´-ya, θ Serpentis.

Situated in the tip of the Serpent's tail. Pale yellow in color. It
culminates Aug. 18th.

Ancha, θ Aquarii, "the hip."

Situated in the right hip of Aquarius.

Ant-ār-es, or An-ta´-rez, α Scorpii, "the rival of Mars."

Situated in the heart of the Scorpion. Fiery red and emerald green in
color. It culminates July 11th.

Arc-tū-rus, α Boötis, "the leg of the lance-bearer," or "the bear-keeper."

Situated in the left knee of the Herdsman. Golden yellow in color. It
culminates June 8th.

Arided, See Deneb.
Arneb (är´-neb), α Leporis, "the hare," the Arab name for the constellation.

Situated in the heart of the Hare. Pale yellow in color. It culminates
Jan. 24th. α Leporis is sometimes called Arsh.

Arkab (är´-kab), β Sagittarii, "the tendon uniting the calf of the leg to the
heel."

Situated in the Archer's left fore leg.

Ashfar, μ and ε Leonis, "the eyebrows."

Situated close to the Lion's right eye. μ orange in color, sometimes
called Alshemali or Asmidiske.

Aspidiski (as-pi-dis´ke), or Asmidiske, ι Argus, "in the gunwale."

Situated in the shield which ornaments the vessel's stern. Pale yellow
in color. The Century Dictionary gives "a little shield" as the meaning
for this star name.

Ascella, ζ Sagittarii, "the armpit."

Situated near the Archer's left armpit. It culminates Aug. 19th.

Ascellus, θ Boötis.

It marks the finger tips of the Herdsman's upraised hand.

Ascellus Borealis, ν Cancri, "northern ass."

Straw color.

Ascellus Australis, δ Cancri, "the southern ass."

Situated on the back of the Crab. Straw color.

Atik, ο Persei.

Situated in the wing on the right foot of Perseus.

Azelfafage, π Cygni, "the horse's foot or track."
Azha, η Eridani, "the ostrich's nest."

Pale yellow in color.

Baham, θ Pegasi, "the young of domestic animals."

Situated near the left eye of Pegasus.

Bat´en Kaitos, ζ Ceti, "the whale's belly."

A topaz-yellow-colored star, which culminates Dec. 5th.

Beid (bā´-id), ο Eridani, "the egg."

A very white star.

Bel´-la-trix, γ Orionis, "the female warrior." The Amazon star.

Situated in the left shoulder of Orion. Pale yellow in color. It is
receding from the earth at the rate of six miles per second, and
culminates Jan. 22d. The Century Dictionary gives the color as very
white.

Be-net´-nasch, η Ursæ Majoris, "the chief or governor of the mourners"
(alluding to the fancied bier).

Situated in the tip of the Great Bear's tail. Brilliant white in color. It is
approaching the earth at the rate of sixteen miles per second, and
culminates June 2d. This star is also called Alkaid, from al-kaid, "the
Governor."

Betelgeuze (Bet-el-gerz´), α Orionis, "the giant's shoulder," or "the armpit
of the central one."

Situated in the right shoulder of Orion. Orange in color. It is receding
from the earth at the rate of ten miles per second, and culminates Jan.
29th.

Sometimes called Mirzam, the roarer.

Botein (bō-tē-in´), δ Arietis, "the little belly."
Ca-pel´-la, α Aurigæ, "the she-goat."

Situated in the left shoulder of the Charioteer. It is a white star, and is
receding from the earth at the rate of fifteen miles per second. It
culminates Jan. 19th. The color of Capella is nearly that of the sun.

Caph (kaf), β Cassiopeiæ, "the camel's hump," or "the hand."

It is white in color, and culminates Nov. 11th.

Cas´-tor, α Geminorum, "the horseman of the twins."

Its color is bright white, and it culminates Feb. 23d. Situated in the
head of Castor. The Century Dictionary gives the color as greenish.

Cheleb, β Ophiuchi, also Ceb´elrái from kelb, the shepherd's dog.

Situated in the head of the Serpent. It is a yellow star, and culminates
Aug. 30th.

Chort (chôrt), θ Leonis.

Situated in the hind quarters of the Lion. It culminates April 24th. The
Century Dictionary has θ Centauri for this star.

Cor Caroli (kôr kar´-ō-lī), α Can. Ven., "the heart of Charles II."

It is flushed white in color, and culminates May 20th. A yellowish star
according to the Century Dictionary.

Cujam, ω Herculis. Word used by Horace for the club of Hercules.
Cursa (Ker´ sa), β Eridani, "the footstool of the central one," or "the chair
or throne."

Situated about at the source of the river near Orion. Topaz yellow in
color, and culminates January 13th. This star is also known as Dhalim
(Tha´lim) ("the ostrich").

Dabih (dä´-be), β Capricorni, "the lucky one of the slaughterers," or "the
slayer's lucky star."

Situated in the head of the Sea-Goat. It is an orange-colored star, and
culminates Sept. 10th.

Dē´-neb, or Arided (ar´-i-ded), α Cygni, "the hen's tail," "the hindmost."

Situated in the tail of the Swan, and at the top of the Cross. Brilliant
white in color. It is approaching the earth at the rate of thirty-six miles
per second. It culminates Sept. 16th.

Deneb al okab (den´-eb al-ō-kâb), ε and ζ Aquilæ, "the eagle's tail."
Deneb algedi (den´-eb al´-jē-dē), δ Capricorni, "the tail of the goat."

Situated in the tail of the Sea-Goat.

Deneb al shemali (den´-eb-al-she-mä-le), ι Ceti

A bright yellow star situated at the tip of the northern fluke of the
monster's tail.

Deneb Kaitos (den´-eb kī´-tos), β Ceti, "the tail of the whale."

Situated in the tail of the Whale. It is a yellow star, and culminates
Nov. 21st. This star sometimes called Diphda.

De-neb´-o-la, β Leonis, "the lion's tail."

It is a blue star which is approaching the earth at the rate of twelve
miles per second. It culminates May 3d. This star also called Dafirah,
and Serpha.

Dschubba, δ Scorpii, "the front of the forehead."

Situated in the head of the Scorpion. It culminates July 4th.

Dsiban, ψ Draconis.

Pearly white in color.

Dub´-he (döb´-he), α Ursæ Majoris, "a bear."

The northern pointer star. It is a yellow star, and is approaching the
earth at the rate of twelve miles per second. It culminates April 21st.
The Arabs called the four stars in the Dipper the "bier."

El nath β Tauri, the one who butts. This star is receding at the rate of five
miles a second.
Eltanin, or Etanin (et´-ā-nin), γ Draconis, "the dragon," "the dragon's
head."

It is orange in color and culminates Aug. 4th. Rasaben is another name
for this star.

E´-nif, or en´-if, ε Pegasi, "the nose."

Situated in the nose of Pegasus. It is a yellow star, which is receding
from the earth at the rate of five miles per second, and culminates Oct.
4th. This star was also called fum-al-far-as, "the mouth of the horse."

Er rai (er-rā´-ē), γ Cephei, "the shepherd."

Situated in the left knee of Cepheus. It is yellow in color and
culminates Nov. 10th.

Fomalhaut (Fō´-mal-ō), (disputed pronunciation), α Piscis Austri, "the
fish's mouth."

Situated in the head of the Southern Fish. It is reddish in color, and
culminates Oct. 25th. This star was also known as the first frog, the
second frog being β Ceti.

Furud, or Phurud (fu-rōd), ζ Canis Majoris, "the bright single one."

Situated in the left hind paw of the Greater Dog. It is light orange in
color.

Gem´-ma, α Coronæ Borealis, "a bud."

The brightest star in the Northern Crown. It is brilliant white in color,
and is receding from the earth at the rate of twenty miles per second. It
culminates June 28th. This star is also known as Alphecca and Alfeta.

Giansar λ Draconis, "the twins," "the poison place."

Situated in the tip of the Dragon's tail. An orange-colored star. It
culminates April 28th.

Giedi, α Capricorni, also called Algied´-i, the goat.

Situated in the head of the Sea-Goat. It is a yellow star, and culminates
Sept. 9th.

Gienah, γ Corvi, "the right wing of the raven."

Situated in the Crow's wing. It culminates May 10th.

Gienah, ε Cygni, "the wing."

Situated in the Swan's wing. It is a yellow star, and culminates Sept.
17th.

Gomeisa (gō-mī´-zä), Gomelza, β Canis Minoris, "Watery-eyed, weeping."
A white star.

Situated in the neck of the Lesser Dog.

Graffias, β Scorpii, derivation unknown; the name may mean "the crab."
This star was also called Ak´rab, the Scorpion.

Situated in the head of the Scorpion. It is a pale white star, and
culminates July 5th.

Grumium (grö´-mi-um), ξ Draconis, "the dragon's under jaw."

A yellow star.

Ham´-al or (ha-mäl´), α Arietis, "the head of the sheep."

Situated in the forehead of the Ram. It is yellow in color, and is
approaching the earth at the rate of nine miles per second. It
culminates Dec. 11th.

Homam (ho-mam´), ζ Pegasi, "the lucky star of the hero, or the whisperer."

Situated in the neck of Pegasus. Light yellow in color. It culminates
Oct. 22d. The Century Dictionary gives this star name to η Pegasi.

Hyadum I, γ Tauri.

Situated in the Hyades, the nose of the Bull. A yellow star.

Izar (ē-zär), Mirach, or Mizar, ε Boötis, "the girdle."

Pale orange in color. It is approaching the earth at the rate of ten miles
per second, and culminates June 16th. A beautiful colored double star.

Jabbah (Jab´-bä), ν Scorpii, "crown of the forehead."

A triple star.

Kaus (kâs), Australis, ε Sagittarii, "the southern part of the bow."

An orange-colored star. It culminates Aug. 8th.

Kaus (kâs), Borealis, λ Sagittarii, "the northern part of the bow."

Orange color.

Kitalpha, α Equulei, the Arab name for the asterism. In the head of the
Little Horse. It culminates Sept. 24th.
Ko´-chab (kō-käb´), β Ursæ Minoris, "the star of the North."

Situated in the right shoulder of the Little Bear. One of the two
Guardians of the Pole. It is reddish in color, and is receding from the
earth at the rate of eight miles per second. It culminates June 19th.

Kornephoros, β Herculis, the Arab name for the constellation.

Situated in the right arm-pit of Hercules. Pale yellow in color. It is
approaching the earth at the rate of twenty-two miles per second. It
culminates July 12th.

Lesuth, ν Scorpii, "the sting."

Situated in the tip of the Scorpion's tail. It culminates July 27th.

Marfak (mär´fak), θ Cassiopeiæ, "the elbow."

Situated in the left elbow of Cassiopeia. This star name is also given to
μ Cassiopeiæ.

Marfic (mär´-fik), λ Ophiuchi, "the elbow."

Situated in the left elbow of the Serpent Bearer. Yellowish white in
color.

Marfik (mär´ fik), or Marsic, κ Herculis, "the elbow."

Situated in the right elbow of Hercules. Light yellow in color.

Mar´-kab (mär´kab), α Pegasi, Arab word for "saddle". Century Dictionary
gives "a wagon" or "chariot."

Situated in the base of the Horse's neck. It is a white star which is
receding from the earth at the rate of three quarters of a mile a second.
It culminates Nov. 3d.

Markeb, κ Argus.

Situated in the stern of the Ship. It culminates Mar. 25th.

Marsym, λ Herculis, "the wrist."

Situated in the left wrist of Hercules. Deep yellow in color.

Matar or Sad (Säd), "a lucky star," or more fully, Sad-Mator, η Pegasi, "the
fortunate rain."

Situated in the left fore leg of Pegasus.

Mebusta, Mebsuta (Meb-sö´-ta), or Meboula, ε Geminorum, "the
outstretched."

A brilliant white star situated in the right knee of Castor.

Media, or Kaus Media, δ Sagittarii, "middle (of the) bow."

Orange yellow in color. It culminates Aug. 8th.

Mē-gres, or (Mē´-grez), δ Ursæ Majoris, "the root of the bear's tail."

It is a pale yellow star, and culminates May 10th. This star is the
faintest of the seven which form the Dipper.

Meissa, λ Orionis.

Situated in the face of the Giant Hunter. Pale white in color.

Mekbuda (mek-bū´-dā), ζ Geminorum, "the contracted (arm)."

Situated in the left knee of Pollux. Pale topaz in color.

Menkalinan (men-ka-lē-nan´ or Men-kal´-i-nan), β Aurigæ, "the shoulder
of the rein-holder or driver."

Situated in the right arm of the Charioteer. A lucid yellow star which is
receding from the earth at the rate of seventeen miles per second. It
culminates Jan. 29th. This star was one of the first discovered and most
remarkable "spectroscopic binaries."

Menkar (men´kär), α Oeti, "the nose, or snout."

Situated in the nose of Cetus. Bright orange in color. It culminates
Dec. 21st. Sometimes written Menkab.

Menkib, ξ Persei, "the shoulder."

Situated in the calf of the right leg of Perseus.

Merak (mē´rak), β Ursæ Majoris, "the loin of the bear."

A greenish white star which is approaching the earth at the rate of
eighteen miles per second. It culminates Apr. 20th. The southern of the
two "pointers."

Mesartim (mē-sär´tim), γ Arietis, the Hebrew word for "minister."

Situated in the Ram's left horn. Bright white in color.

Mintaka (min´ta-kä), δ Orionis, "the belt (of the giant)."

One of the three stars in Orion's belt. A brilliant white star with very
little motion. It culminates Jan. 24th.

Mī´-ra (mī´ra or mē´ra), ο Ceti.

Situated in the neck of Cetus. A famous variable, flushed yellow in
color. It culminates Dec. 15th.

Mī´rach, or Mirak (mī´rak or mē´rak), β Andromedæ, "the girdle," or "the
loins."

A yellow star culminating Nov. 28th.

Mīzar (mīzär or mē´zär), ζ Ursæ Majoris, "a girdle or apron."

Situated in the tail of the Great Bear. Brilliant white in color. It is
approaching the earth at the rate of nineteen miles per second. It
culminates May 28th.

Muliphen, γ Canis Majoris.

Situated in the neck of the Greater Dog. It culminates Feb. 26th.

Muphrid (mū´-frid), η Boötis, "the solitary star of the lancer."

Situated in the calf of the left leg of the Herdsman. Pale yellow in
color. It culminates June 4th.

Murzim or Mirzam (mer-zäm´), β Canis Majoris, "the announcer" or "the
roarer."

Situated in the Greater Dog's left fore paw. A white star culminating
Feb. 5th.

Muscida, ο Ursæ Majoris, "the muzzle."

Situated in the nose of the Great Bear.

Nekkar, or Nakkar (nak´-kär), β Boötis, "the herdsman," the Arab name for
the whole constellation.

Situated in the head of Boötes. A golden yellow star which culminates
June 20th.

Naos (nā´-os), ζ Argus, "the ship."

Situated in the stern of the Ship. It culminates Mar. 3d.

Nashira, γ Capricorni, "the fortunate one, or the bringer of good tidings."

Situated in the tail of the Sea-Goat. It culminates Oct. 3d.

Nihal, β Leporis.

Situated in the right foot of the Hare. Deep yellow in color. It
culminates Jan. 23d.

Nodus Secundus, δ Draconis, "the second of the four knots or
convolutions."

Deep yellow in color. It culminates Aug. 24th.

Nunki, σ Sagittarii, "the star of the proclamation of the sea," or Sadira (sad
´-ē-ra), "the ostrich returning from the water."

Situated in the upper part of the Archer's left arm. It culminates Aug.
17th.

Phad, Phec´-da, or Phaed (fā´-ed), γ Ursæ Majoris, "the thigh" (of the
bear).

Topaz yellow in color. It is approaching the earth at the rate of sixteen
miles per second. It culminates May 4th.

Phaet or Phact, α Columbæ.

Situated in the heart of the Dove. It culminates Jan. 26th.

Pherkad (fer´-kad), γ Ursæ Minoris, "the calf."

Situated in the right fore leg of the Little Bear.

Po-lá-ris, α Ursæ Minoris, "the pole star."

Situated in the tip of the Little Bear's tail. Topaz yellow in color. It is
receding from the earth at the rate of sixteen miles per second.

Pol´-lux, β Geminorum, Ovid's "Pugil," the pugilist of the two brothers.

Situated in the head of Pollux. An orange-colored star which is
receding from the earth at the rate of one mile per second. It
culminates Feb. 26th. The Century Dictionary gives the color of Pollux
as very yellow.

Porrima (por´-i-mä), γ Virginis, Latin name for "a goddess of prophecy."

Situated in the Virgin's left arm. It culminates May 17th.

Pro´-cy-on, α Canis Minoris, "the foremost dog."

A yellowish-white star. It is approaching the earth at the rate of six
miles per second. It culminates Feb. 24th. It is situated in the right side
of the Lesser Dog. Dr. Elkin gives its distance as 12.3 light years, and
its proper motion as 13.9 miles per second.

Propus (prō´-pus), η Geminorum, "the forward foot."

Situated in the northern foot of Castor.

Rasalas (ras´-a-las), μ Leonis, "the lion's head toward the south."

Situated in the Sickle, close to the Lion's right eye. An orange-colored
star. It culminates Apr. 1st. Alshemali and Borealis are other names for
this star.

Ras Algethi (räs-al-ge´-thi), α Herculis, "the kneeler's head."

Orange red in color. It culminates July 23d.

Ras´-al-hāg´-ue, α Ophiuchi, "the head of the serpent charmer."

A sapphire-hued star. It is receding from the earth at the rate of twelve
miles per second. It culminates July 28th.

Rastaban (räs-ta-bän´), β or γ Draconis "the dragon's head," or "the head of
the basilisk."

A yellow star culminating Aug. 3d. This star also called Alwaid (al-wīd
´) "the sucking camel-colts." The three stars near it are included in this
appellation.

Reg´-u-lus, α Leonis, diminutive of the earlier Rex.

Situated in the handle of the Sickle, and the right fore paw of the Lion.
It is flushed white in color, and is approaching the earth at the rate of
five miles per second. It culminates April 6th. According to Dr. Elkin it
is 35.1 light years distant, and has a proper motion of 8.5 miles per
second.

Rigel (ri´-jel), β Orionis, "the [left] leg of the Jabbah, or giant."

A bluish-white star, which is receding from the earth at the rate of ten
miles per second. It culminates Jan. 20th. This star is sometimes called
Algebar (al´-je-bär).

Rotanev (rot´-a-nev), β Delphini, from Venator, assistant to Piazzi, his
name reversed.

It culminates Sept. 15th.

Ruchba, ω Cygni, "the hen's knee."

A pale red star.

Ruchbah, or Rucbah, δ Cassiopeiæ, "the knee."

Situated in the left knee of Cassiopeia. It culminates Dec. 2d.

Rukbat, α Sagittarii, "the archer's knee."

Situated in the left fore foot of the Archer. It culminates Aug. 24th.

Sabik, η Ophiuchi.

A pale yellow star in the left leg of the Serpent Bearer. It culminates
Aug. 21st.

Sadachbia (sād-ak-bē´-yä), γ Aquarii, "the luck star of hidden things."

Greenish in color and situated in the water jar of Aquarius. It
culminates Oct. 16th.

Sad al Bari, λ and μ Pegasi, "the good luck of the excelling one."

Situated close to the fore legs of Pegasus.

Sadal Melik (säd-al-mel´-ik), or Rucbah, α Aquarii, "the lucky star of the
king."

A red star situated in the right shoulder of Aquarius. It culminates Oct.
9th.

Sadalsund, or Sadalsuud (säd-al-sö-öd), β Aquarii, "the luckiest of the
lucky."

Pale yellow in color. Situated in the left shoulder of Aquarius. It
culminates Sept. 29th.

Sadatoni (sad-a-tō´-ni), ζ Aurigæ.

One of the three stars known as "the kids." Orange color.

Sadr (sadr), or Sadir (sā´-dēr), γ Cygni, "the hen's breast."

This star is approaching the earth at the rate of four miles per second.
It culminates Sept. 11th.

Saiph (sā-if´), κ Orionis, "the sword of the giant."

Situated in Orion's right knee. It culminates Jan. 27th.

Sargas, θ Scorpii.

A red star situated in the tail of the Scorpion. It culminates July 27th.

Scheat (she´-at), or Menkib, β Pegasi, "the upper part of the arm."

Situated in the left fore-leg of Pegasus. It is deep yellow in color, and
is receding from the earth at the rate of four miles per second. It
culminates Oct. 25th.

Schemali, see Deneb al schemali, ι Ceti.
Seginus (se-jī´nus), γ Boötis, from Ceginus of the constellation, possibly.

Situated in the left shoulder of Boötes. It culminates June 13th.

Shaula (shâ´-lä), λ Scorpii, "the sting."

In the tip of the Scorpion's tail.

Shedar, Schedir, or Shedir, α Cassiopeiæ, "the breast," or from El Seder,
"the sedar tree," a name given to this constellation by Ulugh Beigh.

Pale rose in color. It culminates Nov. 18th.

Sheliak, or Shelyak (shel´-yak), "a tortoise," β Lyræ, Arabian name for the
constellation.

A very white star culminating Aug. 17th.

Sheratan (sher-a-tan´), β Arietis, "a sign," or "the two signs."

Situated in the Ram's horn. A pearly white star culminating Dec. 7th.

Sir´-i-us, α Canis Majoris, "the sparkling star or scorcher."

Situated in the mouth of the Great Dog. Brilliant white in color. The
brightest of the fixed stars. It culminates Feb. 11th.

Situla (sit´-ū-lā), κ Aquarii, "the water jar or bucket."

Situated in the rim of the Water Jar.

Skat, or Scheat, δ Aquarii, "a wish," or possibly it means a "shin bone."

Situated in the right leg of Aquarius.

Spï´ca, α Virginis, "the ear of wheat or corn" (held in the Virgin's left hand).

A brilliant flushed white star, which is approaching the earth at the rate
of nine miles a second. It culminates May 28th.

Sualocin, or Svalocin (sval´-ō-sin), Nicolaus reversed, α Delphini.

A pale yellow star culminating Sept. 15th.

Sulafat, or Sulaphat (sö´-lä-fät), "the tortoise," γ Lyræ.

Arabian title for the whole constellation. It is bright yellow in color,
and culminates Aug. 19th.

Syrma, ι Virginis; this name used by Ptolemy to designate this star in the
train of the Virgin's robe.
Talita (tä´-lē-tä), κ or ι Ursæ Majoris, "the third vertebra."

Situated in the right fore paw of the Great Bear. Topaz yellow in color.

Tania Borealis, λ Ursæ Majoris.
Tania Australis, μ Ursæ Majoris, a red star.

These stars are situated in the right hind foot of the Great Bear. The
former star culminates Apr. 8th.

Tarazed (tar´-a-zed), γ Aquilæ, "the soaring falcon," part of the Persian title
for the constellation.

Situated in the body of the Eagle. A pale orange star, culminating Aug.
31st.

Tegmeni, ζ Cancri, "in the covering."

A yellow-colored star.

Te´-jat, μ Geminorum.

Thu´-ban or (thō-ban´), α Draconis, "the dragon," the Arab title for the
constellation.

Situated in one of the Dragon's coils. It is pale yellow in color, and
culminates June 7th.

Unuk al Hay or Unukalhai (ū´-nuk-al-hä´-i), α Serpentis, "the neck of the
snake."

A pale yellow star which is receding from the earth at the rate of
fourteen miles a second. It culminates July 28th.

Vë´ga, or Wega, α Lyræ, "falling," i.e., the falling bird, "the harp star."

A beautiful pale star sapphire in color. It is approaching the earth at the
rate of nine miles a second. It culminates Aug. 12th.

Vindemiatrix, ε Virginis, "the vintager or grape gatherer."

Situated in the Virgin's right arm. A bright yellow star culminating
May 22d.

Wasat (wä´-sat), δ Geminorum, "the middle."

Situated in the body of Pollux. Pale white in color. It culminates Feb.
19th.

Wesen, δ Canis Majoris, "the weight."

A light yellow star in the right side of the Great Dog. It culminates
Feb. 17th.

Yed Prior (yed), δ Ophiuchi, "the hand," "the star behind or following."

Deep yellow in color. It culminates July 7th. It is in the left hand of the
Serpent Bearer.

Yed Posterior, ε Ophiuchi, "the hand."

A red star culminating July 8th.

Yildum, δ Ursæ Minoris.

Situated in the tail of the Little Bear. A greenish-hued star culminating
Aug. 12th.

Zaniah, η Virginis.

Situated in the Virgin's left shoulder.

Zaurak (zâ´-rak), γ Eridani, "the bright star of the boat."

A yellow star.

Zavijava (zav-ija´-va), β Virginis, "angle or corner," "the retreat or kennel of
the barking dog."

Situated on the Virgin's left wing. A pale yellow star culminating May
3d.

Zosma (zōs´-ma), δ Leonis, "a girdle."

Situated at the root of the Lion's tail. A pale yellow star which is
approaching the earth at the rate of nine miles a second. It culminates
Apr. 24th. This star is also called Duhr, and sometimes Zubra.

Zubenakravi (zöben-ak´-ra-vi or -bi), γ Scorpii, "the claw of the Scorpion."
A red star.
Zuben Elgenubi (zö-ben-el-jen-ū´-bi), α Libræ, "the southern claw" (of the
Scorpion).

A pale yellow star culminating June 17th. This star is also called Kiffa
Australis.

Zuben Eschamali (zö-ben-es-she-ma´-li), β Libræ, "the northern claw."

A pale emerald color, a very unusual color for a star. It is approaching
the earth at the rate of six miles a second and culminates June 23d.
This star is also known as "Kiffa Borealis."

In the compilation of the foregoing list, the author has been greatly assisted
by Allen's "Star Names and their Meanings."
[1] It will be noted that the date of culmination is given in almost every case. By
culmination is meant the highest point reached by a heavenly body in its path, at
which point it is said to be on the meridian. In this hemisphere this is in each
case the highest point north.
For example:—the culmination of the sun occurs at noon.
The time when the stars here mentioned culminate on the dates specified is in
each case nine o'clock p.m.

TABLE SHOWING THE STARS OF THE FIRST AND
SECOND MAGNITUDE RISING IN THE EASTERN SKY AT
NINE O'CLOCK P.M. ON THE DATES SPECIFIED.

DATE NAME OF STAR CONSTELLATION
January 1 Regulus, 1st. Leo.
January 8 Alphard, 2d. Hydra.
January 11 Cor Caroli. Canes Venatici.
February 20 Arcturus, 1st. Boötes.
March 1 Spica, 1st. Virgo.
March 5 Gemma, 2d. Corona Borealis.
April 1 Vega, 1st. Lyra.
April 20 Ras Alhague, 2d. Ophiuchus.
April 22 Deneb, 2d. Cygnus.
May 9 Antares, 1st. Scorpius.
May 26 Altair, 1st. Aquila.
June 5 Delphinus.
July 17 Algenib, 2d. Perseus.
August 6 Algol. Perseus.

August 21 Capella, 1st. Auriga.
August 21 Hamal, 2d. Aries.
August 27 Fomalhaut, 1st. Piscis Australis.
September 13 The Pleiades in Taurus.
October 2 Aldebaran, 1st. Taurus.
October 26 Bellatrix, 2d. Orion.
October 30 Castor, 2d. Gemini.
October 30 Betelgeuze, 1st. Orion.
November 4 Pollux, 1st. Gemini.
November 4 Rigel, 1st. Orion.
November 27 Procyon, 1st. Canis Minor.
December 4 Sirius, 1st. Canis Major.
December 8 Phaet, 2d. Columba.
December 14 The Bee Hive in Cancer.
December 16 The head of Hydra.

INDEX
Andromeda, 73
Antinoüs, 39
Aquarius, 81
Aquila, 39
Argo Navis, 107
Aries, 85
Auriga, 11

Boötes, 55
Brandenburg Sceptre, The, 111
Bull of Poniatowskio, 45

Camelopardalis, 7
Cancer, 13
Canes Venatici, 59
Canis Major, 105
Canis Minor, 21
Capricornus, 83
Cassiopeia, 67
Cepheus, 69
Cerberus, 53
Cetus, 87
Columba, 103
Coma Berenices, 19
Corona Australis, 43
Corona Borealis, 51
Corvus, 23
Crater, 25
Cygnus, 37

Delphinus, 41
Draco, 33

Equüleus, 71
Eridanus, 111

Gemini, 9
Gloria Frederica, 73

Hercules, 53
Herschel's Telescope, 11
Hydra, 15

Leo, 17
Leo Minor, 95
Lepus, 101
Libra, 49
Lupus, 47
Lynx, 95
Lyra, 35

Monoceros, 109
Musca, 89

Ophiuchus, 45
Orion, 99

Pegasus, 71
Perseus, 75
Pisces, 77
Piscis Australis, 81

Sagitta, 37
Sagittarius, 43
Scorpius, 47
Serpens, 45
Sobieski's Shield, 39

Taurus, 97
Triangulum, 79

Ursa Major, 5
Ursa Minor, 7

Virgo, 57
Vulpecular and Anser, 41

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Corrections made:
Page 12 Au iga corrected to Auriga.
Page 118 preceptible corrected to perceptible.
Page 148 Oeti corrected to Ceti.
Page 163 cometimes corrected to sometimes.
Inconsistencies retained:
Alphecca and Alphacca.
Gloria Frederika and Gloria Frederica.
Bull of Poniatowskio and Bull of Poniatowski.

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