Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-23
labove the horizon, while those within the same
distance of the south pole are never seen.

distance of the south pole are never seen.
The equator of the earth, which is an imagi-
nary line extending around it at equal distance
from the poles, produced every way to the sur
face Of the heavens, forms great circle called
the Equinoctial, which is everywhere equally
distant from the poles Of the heavens. The
Equinoctial is exactly described by the diurnal
revolutions of the sun on the twenty-frst days
of March and September, when the sun is said
to cross tie equator.
The path which the sun appears annually to
make among the stars in consequence of their
apparent motion, is called the Earths Orbit or
E.cliptic. 1t crosses the Equinoctial little
obliquely at two opposite points which are called
Equi'lores The sun rises in one of these points
on the twenty-6rst of March, and sets in the
opposite point on the twenty-third of Septem-
ber. The first is called the Vernal the latter
the Autumna Equinox.
Declinati0n is the distance of heavenly body
either north or south of the Equinoctial. The
most northern part of the Ecliptic, which the
Sun passes about the twenty first of June, is on
parallel of % IL deg north declinatien, and
is called the Summer Solstice; the opposite point
which is called the Winter Solstice, has as many
degrees Of south declination, and is passed by
the Sun on the twenty-frst day of December.
The Zodiac is zone or girdle about sixteen
deg in breadth, extending quite around the
heavens, and including all the heavenly bodies
within eight degrees on each side of the eclptic.
1t includes, also, the orbits of all the planets,
since they are never seen beyond eight deg.
either north Or south of the ecliptic.
The zodiac is divided into twelve equal parts
called Signs, the names of which, can be found
in any almanac.
The ancient astronomers gave to the constel
lations within the zodiac the names of the sign
in which they were situated, but in consequence
of another motion of the stars, they have ad
vanced easterly one sign in the order of the 20
diac; so that the constellation Aries is in tn,
sign Taurus, &C., throughout the zodiac. W.
" ii"'O 90 Co uccollbCu Oub LUufOtuG
lation, namely Scorpio; at the eastern extremi
, ty of which is the western solstice.
The word meridian as we have used it in thi
article, signifies a line passing from the nortl
pole through the zenith to the south pole of th'
heavens, and is Stationary Meridians are imag
mary great circles drawn through the poles o
the world, cutting the equator and equinoctia
at right angles. The Cohres are two grea
marldans which pass through the poles of th'
heavens, dividing the ecliptic and equnoctia
into four equal parts, and mark the seasons o
the year. One of them pass through the equi
noxes and Aries and Libra* and is thence callet
the Eqinoctial Colure; the other which passe
through the Salstitial points, is called the Sois
titial Cohtre, The whole heavens are divided
by merdians into twenty-four equal parts, be
ing the distance which the heavenly bodies ap
pear to describe each hour. The Equinoctia
colure which passes through the first point O
Aries, is called the prime meridian, and is to al
science of Astronomy, what the meridian @
: Greenwich is to Geography; it being the start
/. ing point from which the longitude or right a,
: cension of all the heavenly bodies are reckoned
Y Algenib and Alpherates in Pegasus, and Cap
y in Casslopeia, are situated on the prime mer
dian and point out its direction through tn
;, poles. About as far below Algenib as that sta
- is south of Alpherates, and in the same diret
II ton, is the point where the prime meridian an
;, ecliptc cross the equinoctial, called the fir!
point Of Aries. Right ascension in the heavens
:, unlike longitude on the earth, is recond only on
- way entirely round the circle, or 800 deg Fo
~ instance, Algenib, being situated one deg. ea'
y of the prime meridian, has right ascension {
70 only one deg. while Alpheratz in consequent
. Of being one deg. 'cest was right ascension
III $50 deg on nearly the whole circle.
We plead guilty to violation of the promise
is made at the commencement, that this should /
I'd short article, but one explanation demande
IS another, and being determined to make a clea
is breast Of it, we have presented all the facts
briefly and as clearly as possible, SO that in fl
ir ture we shall not be Obliged to refer to them fl
IN any future explanation ORION.