Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-07

Astronomy,---No. Q.
LYRA, THE HARP.

In an article which appeared in the Freeman
of the 25th ult, gave the reader brief de-
scription of the constellation of Scorpio, and
also rule by which he could calculate the dis
lance OF stars from each other, in degrees. An
error occurred in that description which might
cause some perplexity to the learner and which
was not discovered till too late to be remedied.
1t was stated that Antares might be known ..by
its being the only bright star in the vicinity "
but at the time the article was published, the
bright planet Mars, in passing along its orbit
had come within the constellation Of Scorplo,
and was passing Antares little above it. It
has now advanced nearly to the next constela-
ton and may be seen fifteen OF twenty degrees
east or northeast of Antares.
In this communication propose to make the
reader acquainted with few of the principal
stars in the constellation of Lyra, or the Harp.
This constellation contains one of the brightest
stars in the Northern hemisphere which when
on the meridian is almost directly over head, it
is called Vega and sometimes Vega but more
commonly it is called Lyra after the name Of
the constellation; this star comes to the meridi-
an at o'clock on the 18th of August or two
hours earlier, the same day of September.
There are two small but conspicuous stars of
the 9TH magnitude situated about two degrees
apart on the east of it and forming with it
beautiful little triangle with the angular point
at Lyra.
About degrees southeast of Lyra towards
the milky way are two stars of the third mag
nitude about five degrees apart, situated in the
garland of the Harp; these two stars and Lyra
comprising nearly the whole extent Of the con-
stellation. are sitnated on the south side of the
HarP aaA rAraitsi w The strings. All the
stars situated in square eight or nine degrees
in width northeast of these stars, are in this
constellation of which none are larger than the
fourth magnitude. 1t is generally asserted
among the Ancients that this is the celestial
Lyro which Apollo or Mercury gave to Orphe-
us, and upon which he played with such mas
terly hand that he won the admiration and love
of Eurydco who died after their nuptals had
been celebrated in consequence of being poison
ed by the bite of serpent, Orpheus resolved
to recover her or perish in the attempt. With
his Lyre in hand he entered the internal regions
and gained admission to Pluto. Virgil in the
fourth book of his Georges, thus describes the
scene that followed
g E'en to the dark dominons Of the night
He took his way through forests void of light,
And dared amid the trembling ghosts to sing,
And stood before the inexorable king.
The Internal troops like passing shadows glide,
And listening crowd the sweet musicians side;
Men, matrons children and the unmarried maid.
The mighty heros majestic shade
And youth on funeral piles before their parentslad
E'en form the depth Of hell the damn'd advance;
The internal mansions nodding seem to dance;
The gaping three mouthd dog forgets to snarl
The furies hearken, and their snakes uncurl
Ixion,seems no his pains to feel,
But leans attentive on his standing wheel.
All dangers past, at length the lonely bride
In safety goes with her meledious guide.
September 18th. ORION.