The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-12-02
0ar 0lio.
A Clock in the Sky at Night.

M There are some old churches in England
which have clocks showing the time with
only one hand-tEe hour hand. | dare
say that it will seem very strange to active
nnd busy minds in America that such
blocks as these should still continue in ex-
istence. A slumberous place it must be,
truly, where men are content to know time
By the hour, and to take no note of min
utes. Or, if that is not really the way of
u, still it must be strangely backward
world where such clocks, once sufficient
for their purpose, have not yet been re.
placed by time-measures better suited to
active, business-like folks. When such
blocks were more common, and house clocks
and watches less used (and probably very
seldom in order,) it would have been use
ful to know what 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
fhem how to learn the time from the stars;
for the clock | 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 q knowledge of
Che stars should be the recognition of the
pole-star, because the pole of the heavens
being the point round which all the stars
are seemingly carried, so soon as we know
the stars around the pole, we have CEN
ter, 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, supposing he OBJ.
serves the heavens always from the same
station; for it lies always in the same posi-
tion Cor so nearly so that the change can
scarcely be noticed.) If, for example, you
have once been shown, or have found out
for yourself, that from a certain spot in
your garden, or from certain window in
your house, the pole-star can be seen Just
above certain chimney or tree, then at
any time, on any night 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, wheth-
er 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 know.
ing 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
IN nd hn "a Ill A
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
ind well-marked group that it is easily
learned and cannot easily be forgotten.
although not very near the pole, it is yet
Dot so far from it as to range very widely
Qver the heavens; and if you look toward
<he north at any hour of any clear night,
you will seldom require many seconds to
md the familiar set Of seven bright stars,
1hough at one time it is high above the
ole, at another close to the horizon, now
the right of the pole, and anon to the
Ieft. In England the dipper never sets
[n America it partly sets, but still can be
kccognized Except at stations in the most
eouthern States) even when partly below
fhe horizon.
In order to see the dipper in its different
fositions, and also in that portion of its
curse which in December it traverses
Quring the daytime, it is not necessary to
keep long watch upon the group, or to
Judy the heavens during those "wee sma'
ours ayont the twal" wherein the profess
sional astronomer does the best part of his
*erk. If you come out in the evening
<say at about eight once or twice week
on clear nights, all through the winter
+ half Of the year, and a little later during
the Summer months, you will see the dip
p>r and all the polar groups carried right
fonnd the pole. For though, speaking
8operally, it may be said that they COM
n'ete circuit once in every day, yet in
keality they gain about four minutes mo-
|pn in the twenty-four hours, and thus get
Ierther on little by little night after night
ginning an hours motion in about
1fftnight, two hours motion in a month,
<0elve hours motion (or half the complete
ercuiD in half year, until finally, at the
qpd OF the year. they have gained com.
lete circuit.
III. 1t is because of this steady turning
potion or rotation around the pole of the
eeavens, that the stars of the dipper (say,
'pr instance, the pointers) form as it were
clock in the sky, by which the astrono-
pers at any rate, though also any one who
willing to give little attention to the
patter, can tell the hour within few
pinutes on any night in the year.
A few observations made in this way on
few nights during the course of the year,
i'll give clearer idea of the steady mo-
on of the star-dome (resulting in reality
fom the earth's steady rotation on her
kls) than any amount Of description either
4 books or by word of mouth.-Prof r.
Proctor, 81. Nicholas for December.
OCCUPATION FOR CHILDREN.-The
ebit Of children proves that oeouuation il