Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-11-11
Written for the Green Mountain Freem
Astronomy--No. 4.
cYGNUs THE SWAN.

Astr0nomy--No4 T.
cYGNUs THE SWAN.
The reader, having now become familiar with
the situation of the Harp, we next direct his
attention to the constellation of Cygnus or the
Scan, situated about 20 deg. directly east Of it
and in the Milky Way. This constellation is
represented by the figure of a Swan on outspread
wings flying down the Milky Way towards the
south west. The principal stars which mark
the body, wings and bill of the Swan, are so ar
ranged, as to form large and regular Cross ;
the upright piece lying along the Milky Way,
while the crosspiece representing the wings
crosses it at right angles from w. to S. E..
The reader will readily obserrg l1sht star !,
of the first or second magnitude in the Milky
Way, about 24 deg. E. N. E. of Lyra This is
the brightest star in this constellation, and is
situated in the body of the Swan, at the upper
end Of tho cross. 1t is called Arided or Deneb
Cygni, and comes to the meridian at o'clock
in the evening on the 10th Of October, when it
it very nearly over head About deg. south
west of Deneb, is star of the third magnitude
called Sadr situated about 20 deg, east of Lyra
and in that part of the cross, where the up
right piece intersects the cross pisce.
A line drawn from Deneb to Sad'r, and extern
ded about l6 deg. farther will very nearly point
out Afbireo star of the third magnitude sit
ne TOD in +ba h;lI ~ tl S,uo, ,pd ,t tha foot of
the Cross, which, although surrounded by innu-
merable smaller stars, is easily distinguished
from them by its superior brightness. About 8
deg. N. W. Of Sld'r, the reader will notice
another star Of the third magnitude named
Delta, which marks tao right wing of the Swan.
1t is situated nearly in line between Deneb and
Lyra, and forms the western arm of the cross.
1t will b, observed that, Delta, Lyra and Abb
REQ, form nearly right angled triangle, with
the angle at Lyra. line, passing from Delta,
through Sad'r, and extending as far beyond,
will reach Gicnah star also Of the third mag.
nitudo, making the opposite arm of the cross,
and forming with two other stars of the third
magnitude, situated about deg apart south
east of it, the left wing of the Swan.
This constellation contains about eighty stars,
of which nom bat those described, are large
enough to bonoticcd. The sky is very bright
in the vicinity of this constellation, IN conse-
quence Of the large number of small stars it
contains, and the presence of the Milky Way,
which is hers divided into two sections, one
portion passing through the left wing of the
Swan, and the other, and brighter part passing
through its neck and body.
Tse reader is probably aware that the lumi-
nous zone or pathway celled--the SslEy Wcy,
which extends quite around the heavens, is real
ly composed of myrads of stars at 50 great a
distance from the earth, that their rays of light
do not reach us separately, but mingle together,
causing that confused and feeble lustre, visible
in the absence of the moon.
DR.. Herschel, who examined the Milky Way
thoroughly with his powerful telescope, says
that in the small space between Sad'r and AL
| UITcO, tut SudrS IL CUHJdlIS tIt btUtTdtcu lull
two divisions, each containing more than on
hundred and sirty five thousand stars. AnC
when we consider that throughout its entire
length, it contains as many stars in proportion
as does this small space, and that the most con
tiguous of any two of them may be as far apar
as our sun is from them, We find ourselves over
whelmed with astonishment and wonder.
An eminent writer observes that if ever,
star that is visible through the largest telescope
were to be annihlated, they would no more b.
missed byan eye that could take in the univers
than the fall Of a single leaf from the forest.
No wonder then that the PsalmiSt, while view
ing tho immensity of creation; should exclain
in the fullness of his soul, what is man tina
THOU art mindful of him? ?" ORION.
P. S. In article No. 2, third verse, third line
for g five degrees, > read, two degrees