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diff --git a/20769-0.txt b/20769-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7cedd46 --- /dev/null +++ b/20769-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4583 @@ +Project Gutenberg's A Field Book of the Stars, by William Tyler Olcott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Field Book of the Stars + +Author: William Tyler Olcott + +Release Date: March 9, 2007 [EBook #20769] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FIELD BOOK OF THE STARS *** + + + + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Christine D. and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + 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) + +[Illustration: The Knickerbocker Press, New York] + +_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. + +[Illustration: 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." + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: COMA BERENICES] + + + + +CANIS MINOR (kā´-nis mi´-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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: CRATER] + + + + +METEORIC SHOWERS. + +APRIL TO JULY. + + + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + | | | | | Other Dates | | + | Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point |Characteristics| of |Location| + | | | | | Observation | | + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + | Beta or Mu |Apr. 9-16| The Dragon's head | | | N.E. | + | Draconids | Apr. 18 | | Sw. F. | Apr. 17-25 | | + | Beta Serpentids | | The Serpent's head | | | S.E. | + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + | Lyrids, | | About 10° from | | | | + | rich shower | Apr. 20 | Vega toward | V. Sw. | | N.E. | + | | | Hercules | | | | + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + | Eta Aquarids, | May 6 | Near the Water | Sw. Sk. | After 2 A.M.| E. | + | fine annual shower | | Jar | | | | + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + | Alpha Coronids, | May 11 | Near Gemma | Sl. F. | May 7-18 | N. | + |well defined in 1885| | (α) Coronæ B. | | | | + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + | Iota Pegasids, | | Between Cygnus | | May 29- | | + |well defined shower | May 30 | and the Great | Sw. Sk. |June 4 after | N.E. | + | | | Square | | 10 P.M. | | + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + | Beta Herculids | June 7 | Near the Crown | Sl. B. | A fire ball | S.E. | + | | | About 8°S. of Ras | | radiant | | + | Beta Ophiuchids | June 10 | Alhague | Sl. | June 10, 13 | S.E. | + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + | Delta Cepheids | June 20 | About 13° from | | June 10-28, | | + | | | (β) Cassiopeiæ | Sw. |July 19, Aug.| N. | + | | | | | 25, etc. | | + +--------------------+---------+--------------------+---------------+-------------+--------+ + +The Abbreviations under _Characteristics_ are as follows: + + V.--very. + M.--moderately. + Sw.--swift. + Sl.--slow. + Sh.--short. + B.--bright. + F.--faint. + Sk.--streak-leaving meteors. + T.--train-leaving meteors. + + + + +THE CONSTELLATIONS OF SUMMER. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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." + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: CANES VENATICI] + + + + +METEORIC SHOWERS. + +JULY TO OCTOBER. + + + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + | | | | | Other Dates | | + |Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point |Characteristics| of |Location| + | | | | | of Observation | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + | | | Between | | June 13-July 7 | | + |Vulpeculids or | July 4 | Cygnus and | Sw. | Apr. 20, | E. | + | Eta Sagittids | | Delphinus | | May 30 | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + | | | Near Deneb | | July 11-19, | | + | Cygnids |July 19 | (α) Cygni | Sh. Sw. F. | Aug. 22, July | E. | + | | | | | 6-Aug. 16 | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + | | | Between (α) | Sw. B. Sk. | July 23-Aug. 4 | | + |(α)-(β) |July 25 | and | after | Sept. 15, | N.E. | + |Perseids | | (β) Persei | 10 P.M. | Nov. 13 | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + |Aquarids, a | | Near the | | | | + |conspicuous |July 28 | water jar of | Sl. B. | | E. | + |shower | | Aquarius | | | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + |Perseids, fine |Aug. 10 | Near (α) | v. Sw. Sk. | | N.E. | + |shower | | Persei | | | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + |Kappa Cygnids |Aug. 17 | Near the | Sw. B.T. Sh. |Jan. 17, Aug. 4,| S.E. | + | | | Dragon's head | |Aug. 21-25 | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + | | | Near Capella | After 9.30 | Sept. 22, | | + |Alpha Aurigids |Aug. 21 | (α) Aurigæ | P.M. | Oct. 2 | N.E. | + | | | | v. Sw. Sk. | | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + | Omicron | | Near the | | | | + |Draconids. Rich|Aug. 22 | Dragon's head | Sl. T. | Aug. 21-25 | N | + |shower in 1879 | | | | | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + | | |Between Capella | After 10 | Aug. 21, 25, | | + | Epsilon |Sept. 7 | and the | P.M. | Sept. 6-8, 21, | N.E. | + | Perseids | | Pleiades | v. Sw. Sk. | Nov. 29. | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + |Alpha Arietids |Sept. 21| Near Hamal | Sl. T. | Aug. 12, Oct. 7| E. | + | | | (α) Arietis | | | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + |Gamma Pegasids |Sept. 22| Near and S.E. | Sl. | July 31, Aug. | E. | + | | | of Great Sq. | | 25, etc. | | + +---------------+--------+----------------+---------------+----------------+--------+ + +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.--Bright + T.--Train-leaving meteors. + Sw.--Swift + F.--Faint + Sh.--Short meteors. + + + + +THE CONSTELLATIONS OF AUTUMN. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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." + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: MUSCA] + + + + +METEORIC SHOWERS. + +OCTOBER TO JANUARY. + + + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | | | | | Other Dates | | + | Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point |Characteristics| of |Location| + | | | | | Observation | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | | | Between Great | | | | + | Ursids |Oct. 4 |Bear's head and | Sw. Sk. | Aug. 20-24 | N. | + | | | Polaris | | | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + |Epsilon Arietids | | East of Hamal, | | Oct. 11-24, | | + | Rich shower |Oct. 14| near Musca | M. Sw. | Oct. 30- | E. | + | 1877 | | | | Nov. 4 | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | Orionids |Oct. 18| Near Alhena in | After 11 P.M. | Oct. 16-22 | E. | + | Fine shower | | Gemini | Sw. Sk. | | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | | |Near Castor and | After 10 P.M. | Nov. 7, | | + | Delta Geminids |Oct. 29| Pollux | v. Sw. Sk. | Dec. 4, | N.E. | + | | | | | Oct. 16-22 | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + |(e) Taurids. Rich|Nov. 2 | About 13° S.E. | Sl. B.T. | Nov. 2-3 | E. | + | shower in 1886 | | of Aldebaran | | | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | Leonids | |Near (γ) Leonis |After midnight.| | | + |Brilliant shower |Nov. 13| In the Sickle | v. Sw. | Nov. 12-14 | N.E. | + | | | | Sk. | | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | | | Near (μ) Ursæ | After 10 P.M. | Sept. 15, | | + | Leo Minorids |Nov. 16|Maj., the Great | v. Sw. Sk. | Oct. 16 | N. | + | | |Bear's hind feet| | | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | Andromedids. | | Near (γ) | | Nov. 17-23 | | + | The Bielids. |Nov. 27| Andromedæ | Sl. T. | Nov. 21-28 |Overhead| + | Fine display | | | | | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | |Nov. 30|Between Capella | | Aug. 16 | | + | Taurids | |and (α) Persei | V. Sw. | Sept. 15, |Overhead| + | | | | | Nov. 20 | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | Zeta Taurids. |Dec. 6 | Near the horns | | | | + | Active shower | | of the Bull | Sl. B. | | E. | + | in 1876 | | | | | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | Geminids. |Dec. 10| Near Castor | Sw. | Dec. 1-14 | E. | + | Fine shower | | | | | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | Kappa Draconids |Dec. 22| Near Thuban | | Nov. 14-23 | | + | | | (α) Draconis | Sw. Sk. | Dec. 18-29 | | + +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ + | Fire Ball Dates | | | | Nov. 29 | | + | | | | |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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: 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. + +[Illustration: ERIDANUS] + + + + +METEORIC SHOWERS. + +JANUARY TO APRIL. + + + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | | | | | Other Dates | | + |Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point |Characteristics| of |Location | + | | | | | Observation | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | Quadrantids. | Jan. 2 | (44) Boötis, | | | | + | Rich annual | |between Boötes and| M. Sw. B. | Jan 3. | E. | + | shower | | Dragon's head | | | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | Zeta Cancrids |Jan. 2-4| (ζ) Cancri, | | | E. | + | | | near Bee Hive | | | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | Theta Ursids | Jan. 5 | About 10° from β | Small | | | + | | | away from γ | Sh. Sw. F. | Jan. 2-8 | N. | + | | | Ursæ Maj. | | | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + |Alpha Draconids| Feb. 1 | Near Thuban | Sl. | Jan. 9 | N. | + | | | α Draconis | | Dec. 8 | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | | | Near Capella | | Aug. 21 |High in | + |Alpha Aurigids | Feb. 7 | α Aurigæ | Sl. | Sept. 12-22 |Southern | + | | | | | | Sky | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | Tau Leonids |Feb. 16 | τ Leonis, | | Nov. 27 | | + | | | between Leo | Sl. Sk. | Dec. 12 | E. | + | | | and Crater | | Mar. 1-4 | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | Alpha Canum |Feb. 20 | Near Cor Caroli | | | | + | Ven. Well | | and Coma | V. Sw. B. | | E. | + | defined 1877 | | Berenices | | | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | α-β |Mar. 1 | Between α | V. Sl. | July--Dec. | N.W. | + | Perseids | | and β Persei | | Mar. 13-19 | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + |Beta Leonids or|Mar. 14 | Near Denebola | Sl. B. | Mar. 3, 4 | S.E. | + |Beta Virginids | | β Leonis | | Dec. 12 | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + |Kappa Cepheids |Mar. 18 | Near Polaris | Sl. B. | Oct. 4-17 | N. | + | | | | | Mar. 13-19 | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + | | | | | Apr. 10-16 | | + | Beta Ursids |Mar. 24 | Near β | Sw. | Mar. 13-14 | N. | + | | | Ursæ Maj. | | Dec. 2-9 | | + | | | | | Precise | | + +---------------+--------+------------------+---------------+-------------+----------+ + |Zeta Draconids |Mar. 28 | Near the | Sl. | July 29 | N. | + | | | Dragon's Head | |Aug. 24, 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. + +[Illustration: THE PLANETARY ORBITS] + +[Illustration: 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." + +[Footnote 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. + " 8 |Alphard, 2d. |Hydra. + " 11 |Cor Caroli. |Canes Venatici. + February 20 |Arcturus, 1st. |Boötes. + March 1 |Spica, 1st. |Virgo. + " 5 |Gemma, 2d. |Corona Borealis. + April 1 |Vega, 1st. |Lyra. + " 20 |Ras Alhague, 2d. |Ophiuchus. + " 22 |Deneb, 2d. |Cygnus. + May 9 |Antares, 1st. |Scorpius. + " 26 |Altair, 1st. |Aquila. + June 5 | |Delphinus. + July 17 |Algenib, 2d. |Perseus. + August 6 |Algol. |Perseus. + " 21 |Capella, 1st. |Auriga. + " " |Hamal, 2d. |Aries. + " 27 |Fomalhaut, 1st. |Piscis Australis. + September 13 | |The Pleiades in Taurus. + October 2 |Aldebaran, 1st. |Taurus. + " 26 |Bellatrix, 2d. |Orion. + " 30 |Castor, 2d. |Gemini. + " " |Betelgeuze, 1st. |Orion. + November 4 |Pollux, 1st. |Gemini. + " " |Rigel, 1st. |Orion. + " 27 |Procyon, 1st. |Canis Minor. + December 4 |Sirius, 1st. |Canis Major. + " 8 |Phaet, 2d. |Columba. + " 14 | |The Bee Hive in Cancer. + " 16 | |The head of Hydra. + ----------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +INDEX + + + NAME PAGE + + 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 + + + +Popular Books on Astronomy + +By William Tyler Olcott + + +_Excellently arranged, and copiously illustrated, these little +manuals--real field-books--should prove valuable for all who want to +become familiar with the stars_ + + +A Field Book of the Stars + +_16mo. With Fifty Diagrams._ + + To facilitate the fascinating recreation of star-gazing the + author has designed this field-book. All matters of a + technical or theoretical nature have been omitted. Only what + the reader can observe with the naked eye or with an + opera-glass have been included in it. 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 one + is engaged in the observation of the heavens. + + +In Starland with a Three-Inch Telescope + +A Conveniently Arranged Guide for the Use of the Amateur Astronomer + +_16mo. With Forty Diagrams of the Constellations and Eight of the +Moon._ + + The _raison d'etre_ therefore for the book is convenience + and arrangement. The author has found by experience that + what the student most needs when he is observing with a + telescope, is a page to glance at that will serve as a guide + to the object he desires to view, and which affords concise + data relative to that object. The diagrams therefore direct + the student's vision and the subject-matter affords the + necessary information in each case. + + +Star Lore of All Ages + +A Collection of Myths, Legends, and Facts Concerning the +Constellations of the Northern Hemisphere + +_8vo. Fully Illustrated._ + + Will appeal alike to those who are interested in folk-lore + and those who are attracted by astronomy. In it the author + has gathered together the curious myths and traditions that + have attached themselves from the earliest times to + different constellations and even to individual stars. + + G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS + New York London + + +The Essence of Astronomy + +Things Every One Should Know About the Sun, Moon and Stars + +By Edward W. Price + +_12mo. Fully Illustrated._ + + Here is a volume quite different from the usual "popular + book on astronomy." + + It answers in untechnical language the every-day questions + of every-day people, the material being so arranged that it + is readily available for quick reference use, as well as for + interesting consecutive reading. + + An individual chapter is devoted to each member of the Solar + System. Special space is given to "Curiosities of the + Skies." + + The illustrations are from photographs taken at the great + observatories. The drawings of Mars are the most recent + published, being made by Professor Lowell in January, 1914. + + The chronological table and annotated bibliography are of + real value. + + +Sun Lore of All Ages + +A Collection of Myths and Legends Concerning the Sun and its Worship + +By William Tyler Olcott + +Author of "Star Lore of All Ages," "A Field Book of the Stars," etc. + +_8vo. With 30 Illustrations._ + + A companion volume to _Star Lore of All Ages_ by the same + author. It comprises a compilation of the myths, legends, + and facts concerning the sun, of equal interest to the + lay-reader or to the student. + + The literature of the subject is teeming with interest, + linked as it is with the life story of mankind from the + cradle of the race to the present day, for the solar myth + lies at the very foundation of all mythology, and as such + must forever claim pre-eminence. + + + G.P. Putnam's Sons + New York London + + +Astronomy in a Nutshell + +The Chief Facts and Principles Explained in Popular Language for +General Readers and for Schools + +By Garrett P. Serviss + +_Cr. 8vo. With 47 Illustrations._ + + Presents the subject of astronomy in a succinct, popular + form. No mathematical knowledge beyond the simplest outlines + is assumed on the part of the reader. The great underlying + facts and principles of astronomy are presented in a shape + which any intelligent person can comprehend. The book may be + used either for self-instruction or for schools. + + +History of Astronomy + +By George Forbes, M.A., F.R.S., M.Inst.C.E. + +Formerly Professor of Natural Philosophy, Anderson's College, Glasgow + +_16mo. Adequately Illustrated._ + +_No. 1. A History of the Science Series_ + + The author traces the evolution of intellectual thought in + the progress of astronomical discovery, recognizing the + various points of view of the different ages, giving due + credit even to the ancients. It has been necessary to + curtail many parts of the history, to lay before the reader + in unlimited space enough about each age to illustrate its + tone and spirit, the ideals of the workers, the gradual + addition of new points of view and of new means of + investigation. + + +An Easy Guide to the Constellations + +With a Miniature Atlas of the Stars + +By James Gall + +Author of "The People's Atlas of the Stars," etc. + +_New and Enlarged Edition, with 30 Maps 16mo._ + + This new edition of _An Easy Guide to the Constellations_ + has been thoroughly revised: five additional plates have + been added, so as to include all the constellations of the + Zodiac, and render the book complete for Southern Europe and + the United States. + + G.P. Putnam's Sons + New York London + + +The Destinies of the Stars + +By + +Svante Arrhenius + +Author of "Worlds in the Making," etc. + +_12mo. 26 Illustrations._ + + With keenness, brilliancy, and distinguished learning, Dr. + Arrhenius, a Nobel Prize winner, having had occasion + repeatedly to treat new questions of a cosmological nature, + questions largely arisen from new discoveries and + observations within the scope of astronomy, opens to the + reader vast new vistas, through the study of the relation of + the stars to the "Milky Way" and through observations of our + neighbor planets. + + G.P. Putnam's Sons + New York London + + + Transcriber's notes: + 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. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Field Book of the Stars, by William Tyler Olcott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FIELD BOOK OF THE STARS *** + +***** This file should be named 20769-0.txt or 20769-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/7/6/20769/ + +Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Christine D. and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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