Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-09
Astronomy. Z.
COLLEGE OF THE SACRED HEART, l
WATERToRN. JUNE l. 1875. [

| hour as it crosses the equinoctials line, is
also the point of the Autumnal equinox,
| and OF the sign Libra or the Balance. A
line drawn by the eye from the north polar
star between the two last stars of the bod Y
of the dipper Plecta and Megres, and the
west edge of the cluster Bernices Hair, and
40 east of Denebola is about all the direct
tons that can be given here
On the 25d of September the sun on bis
return from his northern journey, at the
above date and point crosses the celestial
equator, and we have equal day and night
At the date of the passing of that import
ant event. it is noon with us here, and the
brilliant rays OF the sun eclipses the light
of all other stars and as this point passes
of to the west at the rate of $50 per hour
we on earth have to wait until in the re-
gular revolution of the earth in it's orbit,
and on its axis, it swings round to us at
night as it does in the month of June !;
when on the 18th at 1892 P. M. the equi-
noctial point Libra will be vertical here at
WATERFOWL Wisconsin, we can then see
and locate the very spot in the heavens in
which this interesting event takes place.
But it must be remembered that the con-
stellation Libra, is 800 behind or east of
this pc Mt, the stars remain stationary 1t
is the signs or points Of crossing on the
II LA
about so seconds of space every year that
is causing this difference, as has already
been described The sign Libra has at this
time passed on from the constellation of
that name where it was in the time of
Hipparcus, 300 years before Christ was
born, to the point it now occupies, and
which is repr esented on the globe as lay
ing across the neck of the figure Of Virgo,
the Virgin, and it will soon have passed
over the whole constellation of Leo "the
Lion"
The constellation of Virgo, occupies an
rests on line drawn between the two
stars Dendbota, in the lions tail. and the
star due south of that, Zauyava, in the
pinion of her own wing, her feet extend
ing back or eastward to the star Tub enelg
in the eastern pan of the scales, which is
the figure by which that constellation is
represented on the globe, a vast space of
some 500 and yet there is but one star of
the first magnitude in all this space,
Arista or Spica Vuginus; its position is Is
hours, l85 minutes right ascension, aud
1000 north polar distance or about 40 south
of the ecliptic. She is represented with
large angel-like wings and holding a sheaf
Of wheat in her right hand, in which is
this fine star.
This constellation is supposed to take its
rise from the virgin Astrea, the goddess of
justice. She lived upon the earth as the
ancient poets mention, during the golden
age; but the wickedness and impiety of
mankind drove her to heaven in the brazen
and iron ages, and she was placed among
the consultations under the name of virgo
There was dispute among the ancient
Sages on this point, for some maintained
that Erigone was changed into the con-
steIlation virgo. Her father Icarius, an
Athenan persisted by the hands of Shep-
herds whom he had intoxicated with wine.
When Erigone heard OF her fathers death,
she hung herself for grief, and Jupiter was
so charmed with her felial affection that
he changed her into this constellation.
Bot this account is refuted by the fact
that virgo was a star in the heavens before
Athens was in existence. A little south of
Bernices hair, and in virgos left arm is the
star Vindemiatrir of the Sd magnitude,
there are numerous stars scattered over the
great space occupied by virgo, bet none
others exceed the Sd magnitude.
Bernfce was daughter of Philadelphus
and Arsinoe; she was very beautiful and
her haxen hair was the wonder Of all who
saw it. Euergetes king of Egypt fell in
love with her and married her making her
his queen, and next to her husband the
queen valued her beautiful hair The king
departed al the head of his army on a
dangerous war, and his good queen vowed
that if he returned safe and victorious she
would make an Offering to the goddess
Venus of her magnificent hair. The king
returned safe and victorious, and Bernice
fulfilled her vow by suspending her hair in
the temple of Venus. Sometime after the
hair disappeared, which caused great grief
to the gentle Bernice, Conon, the astrono
Anoi oiOuSHI oaCh uappIueSS W VIC uedrt Vi
the afflicted queen, by informing her that
Venus, charmed with her piety had with
her own hands removed the precious offer
ing and placed it in the heavens, little
east of that brilliant star Arcturus, whose
duty, as Conon states it. was, to point out
this new constellation as an example to
married ladies, and reminding them of how
dearly they should love their husbands.
little to the south east of Spica Verginus
is the small constellation of Noctua the
Ovt and little to the south west is Cor0us
the Croo. both standing on the body of the
| Hydra; they are small consultations hav-
ing only few stars each of the Sd Magni-
tude. Due south will be seen 5 stars Of the
Sd magnitude forming triangle, they are
in the shoulders Of the Centaar
The most brilliant star to be seen these
evenings is Arctatrus in Bootes left knee,
it IS of the first magnitude and its position
is just within the l4th hour, and 7lo from
| the north polar star This star can be
readily found by observing that it ranges