Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-01-13
Written for the Green Mountain Freeman.
Astronomy--No. 7.
ANDR0MEDA.

Nrtul Dehr, Inree OF bncSc cOnkt6lldtIone alO
situated mostly in the Milky Way at its nearest
approach to. the north star, commencing directly
north of the Swan. The first on the west is
Cepheus, the monarch, sitting with his feet near
the north pole and his head in the Milky Way
a few degrees north of Cygnus. This constella-
ton contains few bright stars, there being only
tpoas large as the third magnitude one situa-
ted in the left shoulder, and the other about
eight degrees north of it in the girdle, which
FORMS with two stars Of the fourth magnitude
east of them, very nearly perfect square.
The next consultative of this group Is Cassi-
opica, which is situated in the Milky Way about
twenty degrees s. E. of Cepheus. Caph, which
We have already pointed out to the reader, is
situated in this constellation, and with four or
five bright stars cast of it forms the figure Of an
inverted chair of which, and the other stars in
this constellation we shall speak more dfnitely
hereafter. Perseus, the son-in-law of Cepheus
and Cassiopiea, is situated in the Milky Way
and when on the meridian appears about thirty
degrees S. E. of Cassiopiea. The most notica'
Bile feature of this constellation is the Arc Of
Perseus, formed by three or four of its brightest
stars, situated nearly in a line N. W shut com
ing little towards the North Star. The fourth
and last in this family Of consultations is the
one we propose to describe in this article.
If we look directly overhead at eight O'Clock
on the 10th of December, we shall see the con
stellution celebrated in fable by the name Of
Andromeda 1t is represented by the figure Of
woman having her arms extended and chained
by her wrists to huge rock, which mytholo'
gists supposed to be Cup there somewhere
though invisible, as are all heavenly representa-
tions of this character, to human optics. 1t il
situated about twenty-sx degrees south of Cas-
siopiea, and nearly the same distance west o
Persaus, 1t lies between twenty and fifty de-
grees of north declnation and its mean rgh
ascension IN nearly fifteen degrees; or one houl
east of the equinoctal colure.
Alpherates, one of the " three guides whicl
point out the prime meridian of the heavens
and the north eastern star in the "square o
Pegasus" belongs also to this constellation ant
is situated in the head of Andromeda, which
represented lying on the colure, thirty degree
south Of Caph. About seven degrees N. E. Q
Alphcrates is row VI three stttrs, lying uort
and south, the brightest being in the centre
This star, which is Of the third magnitude,
called Delta. and is in the left breast of Andre
media. Eight degrees N. N. f. of Delta is an
other row of three stars, situated in the grdl(
Merach, the mosl northery in the row, is "a sta
of the second magnitude, and is situated two q
three degrees north of a straight line passing
it from Alperates through Delta, and is abor
Is degrees from the former. The two stal
north of it are of the fourth magnitude, tt
most northerly is called NJ, and the other MI
which are two letters in the Greek Alphabe
About two degrees from NJ at the northweste1
extremity of the girdle, is remarkable nebu
Of very minute stars and the only one OF Il
Kinu WHICH Is ever FlSlple W tl0 h"hp" OyN'
resembles two cones of light joined at the
base, about two-thirds of degree in lcngt
and one-fourth in breadth.
Ahnadck is star of the second magnitnd
situated in the southern fool, and marks Il
eastern limits of this constellation. 1t is stu
= ted about ten degrees from Merach, and near
in q line with that star and Alphorates. Abo
EIGHT degrees north of Almaack is star OF t
fourth magnitude, called Onicron, which mar
the other foot, and which is surrounded by II
merous smaller stars. The whole number
visible stars in this constellation is 66, Of viii
three (Almaack, Merach and Alpherates) are
thosecond magnitude and one OF the third t
rest with one or two exceptions, are most
small.
Andromeda has about the same n. declnati
as Cygnus and Lyra, and forty and fifty
j., grees east Of them, consequently when it IS
the meridian those consultations are seen neal
setting in the n. E. while Pegasus will ha
passed the meridian two hours Also, at t
same time this constellation eliminates,
, pAides or Seuen Stars followed by brilliant
+, plrER will have advanced nearly to mid-heavt
= while ORION will be seen shining resplendt
over the eastern hills.
The following story Of Andromeda, tr
which this constellation derives its name,
extract from Burritt's Geography Of the He
ems
"She was the daughter Of Cepheus, king
= Ethiopia, by Casseopia. She was promised
a mari iage to Phinneus her uncle, when N
: tune drowned the kingdom, and sent sea m
u ster to ravage the country, to appease the
: sentiment which his favorite Nymphs bore agal
IS Cassiopiea, because she had boasted herself fl
er than Juno and the Mercedes. The oriclc
: Jupiter Ammon was consulted, and moth
could pacify the anger of Neptune unless
u beautiful Andromeda should be exposed to
sea monster. She was accordingly chained
rock for this purpose, near Jopna, (now J
le in Syria) and at the moment the monster
" going to devour her, Perseus, who was then
er turning through the air from the conqucs
the Gorgone, saw her and was captivated by
&c beauty.
'Chained to rock she stood; young Perseus stayed
a His rapid flight, to WOO the beauteous maid
IS He promised to deliver her and destroy
IN monster, if Cepheus would give her to him
lie marriage. Cepheus consented, and Perscus
"a stantly changed the sea monster into rock
lie showing him Medusa's head, which was
he reeking in his hand. The enraged Phinr
o. opposed their nuptas, and violent battle
sued, IN which he, also, was turned INTO st'