The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-14
A Clock in the Sky at Night.

There are some old churches in En-
gland which have clocks showing the time
with only one hand-the hour hand.
dare say that it will seem very strange to
active and busy minds in America that
such clocks as these should still continue
in existence. A slumberous place il
must be, truly, where men are content to
know time by the hour, and to take no
note of minutes. Or, if that is not really
the way of it, still it must be strangely
backward world where such clocks, once
sufficient for their purpose, have not yet
been replaced by time measures better
suited to active, business like folks.
When such clocks were more common,
and house clocks and watches less used
(and probably very seldom in order), it
would have been useful to know what l
am now going to tell you about clock in
the sky, though at present the knowledge
will help rather to teach young folks the
stars, than to show them how to learn the
time from the stars; for the clock l have
to describe has only one hand, and not
only so, but that hand goes the wrong
way round, and only once round in day.
The first step toward knowledge of the
stars should be the recognition of the pole
star, because the pole of the heavens being
the point round which all the stars are
seeming y carried, so soon as we know the
stars around the pole, we have center, SO
to speak, from which we can pass to other
groups until we know them all. Once
known, the pole-star can always be found
by the learner, suppOsiDg he observes the
heavens always from the same station; for
1t lies always in the same position Tor SO
nearly so that the change can scarcely be
notlceO. If, for example, you have once
been shown, or have found out for your
self, that from certain spot in your gar
den, or from a certain window in your
house, the pOle-star can be seen just above
certain chimney or tree, then at any
time, on any ight when the sky is clear,
if you betake yourself to that spot, or look
through that window, you will see the
pole-star over its accustomed chimney or
tree. 1t is there, indeed, all the time,
whether the sky be clear or cloudy,
whether it be day or night. Not only
| does knowledge of the pole-star give you
| known central point whence to proceed
to others, but it gives you the means of
knowing where lie the cardinal points
round the horizon; for, of course, when
you face the pole-star the north lies before
you, the south behind you, the east on
your right, the west on your left.
| But to find the pole star, it is well to
begin with the dipper. This well-marked
group includes two stars which are called
the "pointers," because they point to the
pole-star The dipper is so conspicuous
and well-marked group that it is easily
learned and cannot be easily for
gotten. Although not very near
the pole, it is not yet so far
from it as to range very widely over the
heavens; and if you look toward the north
at any hour OF any clear night, you will sell
dom require many seconds to find the ia
miliar set of seven bright stars, though at
one time it is high above the pole, at another
close to the horizon, now to the right OF the
pole, and anon to the left. In England the
dipper never sets; in America it partly
sets, but still can be recognized Except at
stations in the most Southern States) even
when partly below the horizon.
In order to see the dipper in its different
positions, and also in that portion of its
course which in December it trave rses dur
ing the daytime, tits not necessary to keep
a long watch upon the group, or to study
the heavens during these =" wee sma' hours
ayont the twal," wherein the professional
astronomer does the best part of his work.
If you come out in the evening
(say at about eight once or twice
a week on clear nights, all through
the winter half of the year, and
a little later during the summer months,
you will see the dipper and all the polar
groups carried right round the pole. For
though, speaking generally, it may be
said that they complete a circuit once in
every day, yet in reality they gain about
four minutes motion in the twenty four
hours, anu thus get further on little by
little night after night-gaining an hours
motion in about fortnight, two hours
motion in month, twelve hours motion
Tor half the complete circuit) in half a
year, until finally, at the end of the year,
they have gained complete circuit.
1t is because of this steady turning mo-
ton or rotation around the pole of the
heavens, that the stars of the clipper (say,
for instance, the pointers) form as it were
a clock in The sky, by which the astrono.
mers at any rate, though also anyone who
is willing to give little attention to the
matter, can tell the hour within a few
minutes on any night in the year.
A few observations made in this way
on few nights during the course of the
year, will give clearer idea of the steady
motion of the star-dome (resulting in re.
ality from the earth's steady rotation on
her axis than any amount Of description
either in books or by word of mouth
| Prof. E. A. Proctor, in st. Nicholas.