Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-06-21
A Look Upward

Of persons interested in astronomical
studies. 1t would be well for the Gull
ture of the place if there were more
The experimenting School Committee
for the previous year, found that
scarcely a teacher was to be found
that could properly explain the cause
of the seasons. The correction Of
such state Of ignorance upon such a
subject is an object worthy Of effort.
There are in our public library a
number Of excellent books which will
aid one in the study of astronomy.
Among these are, one on "The Sum-,
a second on "The Moon" a third dis
cussing the question of"Other Worlds
than Ours" In addition to these we
find "Ecce Coelum," Sir John Her.
schePs Familiar Lecture on Scien-
tific Subjects" and Humbolt's great
work, "The Cosmos" This is the kind
of literature so highly commended
by Prof. Sanborn in his recent lecture.
One, taking up for the first time a
ebert of the Heavens, wonders at the
pictorial illustration of the various
consultations. We think it a strange
fancy which sees in the stars a repre-
sentatIon of bear, a lion, bull,
whale, virgin, swan, cross, pair of
twins, Il dog, horse, dove, serpent,
crown, balances &C., &c. But having
once learned these consultations he
will find that this is one of the great
est helps in remembering and describ-
| ing the positions of the stars.
Tell an astrSlomer that certain star
is in the heasAk-8ootes or IN the hand
of Hercules, or the girdle ot4Androm.
cda and he knows precisely what is
meant
The pictorial representations of the
consultations powerfully aids the i'm
agination, as does the study fastron-
omy in all its aspects.
Looking out Westward upon clear
evening, between the hours of nine
and ten o'clock,we see two bright stars
at no great apparent distance from
each other of equal magnitude.
Look at them closely and you
observe that one is of a yellowish
color, the other greensh tinge.
These stars with the cluster below
them form the constellation of Gem
mi or the twins. When boys profane-
ly take the oath, "By Gemini," they
swear WITHOUT knowing it by this con-
stellation, the children of the sky.
The two bright stars represent the
faces of this interesting pair, three
stars in line at some distance toward
the horizon show the position of the
feet. A star out to your right repre-.
sents the left hand of one of the twins
which is supposed to hold bow.
These facts fixed in the memory
/, you will ever behold the twins as IA
miliar acquaintance and will never
cease to admire their wondrous beauty
No mother regards her little ones
with more affection then a whole-soul
ed astronomer does this pair.
Turning to the Southeastward, low
down near the horizon you notice
bright star that shines with a red ligh
1t is one Of the six or seven red star!
of the first magnitude and briliancy
This is Antares. Its constellation il
that Of the SxVrpion which is sltuatec
in one Of the most interesting part.
Of the whole heavens. Humboldt
speaks of certain localities which ar,
''rich in stars" others which are com
paratively speaking ''poor in stars.
The two brightest portions of tn
whole heavens are now visible to us
the one being in the Southeast, tn
other in the Northeast. Ten o'clocI
is favorable time for ohservin!
them. Previous to this hour they al
rather low down in the eastern sky
: Two bright stars are seen in tn
Northeast, one being Vega in Lyra
the other Deneb in the Swan. Be
: tween these two, and in the surround
ing locality the diamonds in the sky
are very abundant. Vega and Dnel
: are both very white in contrast witt
u Arcturus and the planet Mars whicI
: are to be seen toward the Southwest
. These points being of sulficien
! interest for one look upward at tn
i present aspect of the sky,I will sub
!. scribe myself
: AMATEUR ASTRONOMER.