Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-02

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ing out, and making themselves thoroughly ac-
qualnted with the consultations heretofore des-
crioed, and wait, rather impatiently, for the
coming of the Freeman, that they may ascer-
tam what constellation those other bright stars
are in, and inwardly thank and secretly bless
oRIoN for his efforts in their behalf, they need
have no douot that, with proper cultivation,
they may make astronomers, perhaps as great
as Tycho Brahe, Kepler, or the writer of this
article. We will cheerfully contribute our
mite for their improvement, trusting that our
labor is not in vain.
Most of our readers ara acquainted with the
situation of the North Polar Star. This star 10
sitsated apparently about one-third Of the dis
tance from the zenith to the northern point Of
the horizon, as seen from this latitude, and is
stationary the other stars and the sun appear
ing to revolve around it once in twenty-four
hours, and always at the same distance from it,
1t is exactly pointed out by the " Pointers Of
the Great Bear, or those two stars of the " Dip.
per opposite the handle. A line from Megre,
the star in the Dipper where the handle joins
the BOWL through the North Star, and contin-
ued the same distance farther, will reach Caph,
in the constellation of Cassiopeia, a star of the
third magnitude in the western edge of bright
cluster of stars in the form of chair This
star and Meyer are exactly opposite each other,
and equally distant from the pole. The reader
will bear in mind the fact that degree near the.
zenith appears much shorter than the same dis
tance near the horizon in consequence of the
reiraction of the rays of light by the atmos-
phere, and consequently, Meyer appears much
farther from the Polar Star than Caph, when
the latter star is on the meridian This line,
extended about twenty-five degrees further, will
point out Alpherats, star of the second mag
nitude in the head of Andromeda. Fourteen
degrees farther, in the same line is Algenb
also Of the second magnitude. These two stars,
with two more of equal brightness, fifteen deg
rees west of them, form large square, called
the Square of Pegasus. They are in the con-
stellation of the Flying Horse, which is repre-
sented in an inverted posture with wings. Only
the neck head, fore-legs and part of the
body of the horse are visible the rest, as the
poets supposed, being hid behind the clouds
The two stars which form the eastern side Of
the Square, have already been described. Al
pheras. in Andromeda, belongs also to this
constellation, and with Scheat, fifteen degrees
west of it, forms the northern side of the
Square Markab is situated thirteen degrees
south of Scheat, and comes to the meridian
eleven minutes after it. These four stars are in
the body and wings of the Horse. There are
two stars west of Scheat, forming with it q
small triangle. situated in the martingale.-
About eight degrees southwest of Markab, is q
star of the third magnitude, called Zeta, situ-
ated in the neck, and eight or nine degrees far
ther are three or four srlall stars tn the head.
tude, in the nose of Pegasus, and is about ten
degrees west of Zeta, and five degrees north
west of those in the head. In this constellation
there are eighty-nine stars visible to the naked
eve, of which three are of the second magni
tude. and three of the third. Thisconstelation
is on the meridian at 9 o'clock the last of Oc-
tober, and is nearly two hours in passing it.
The feet of Pegasus extend up nearly to the
wings of the Swan and contain no stars of note.
"Now heav'n his further wandering flight confines,
Where splendid with his numerous stars he Shines"
Tunbridge. ORION.