Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-20
The Starry Heavens In September.

The starry heavens In September.
glorious celestial vision is spread above our
heads on every starlit night The sky is alive
with clustering consultations whose mysterious
risings, settings and constant changes arouse our
emotions of wonder, admiration and awe Never
during the whole year is the picture the same on
two successive evenings, taking into account only
the movements of the fixed stars, and never in az
Observers lifetime do the heavens present the
same aspect, if planets, comets and meteors are
included in the list Although an intimate
knowledge of astronomy is required for thorough
comprehension of the starry world it requires only
little study and observation TO become familiar
with the names and relative positions of the prin
cpal stars and TO recognize the different consteI-
lations that are above the horizon 10 fere Mt nor
tons of the year.
The September sky 10 radiant with bright stars
and beautiful consultations. Below the zenith,
towards the west, is brilliant star of the first
magnitude, called Vega. II is frequently called
Lyra, from the name of the constellation to which
it belongs. and cannot by any possibility be mis-.
taken for any other star. Two small stars form
with it an equilateral triangle. and one of these
can he seen as double star by the naked eve.
while the telescope again separates the COMMON.
ents, revealing double double or QuadrupIe star
Vega has been object of attention in ali ages
from its surprising brightness, while the fact that
twelve thousand years hence it will he the nola,
star invests 1t with Especial interest Lower down
near the western horizon, is the radiant Arcturu.
the leading brilliant in Botes, also of the first mar
ni,ude. Though classed among the red stars. il
is said to have changed its color from brilliant
red to more yellowish hue since the early DAYS
OF astronomy. One other star divides the bonors
with Vega and Arcturus. This must be looked
for in the northeast, near the horizon: and is
known as Capells, in AurigR. These three stars
are called the northern brilliants, and their com
parative brightness has long been subject of dis
cusson. Some award the palm to the red tinted
and radiant Arcturus; others prefer the peerless
lust'e of Vega but many of those who have
watched Capella darling above the eastern bori-
zon, cleaning with blueish light and sciotillatino
with wondrous biilliancy, will vote for its suprem-
| scy in the starry trio.
The position Of these stars being once i'm pressed
upon the eye, 1t is easy to trace many of the ada
cent clusters. East Of Lyrs ard directly in the
zenhh is the constellation Of the Swan, with its
beautiful cross resting on the milky way, and
noted for the blazing sun, which two years ,ince
suddenly appeared among its quiet stars, and then
gradually faded into it's original obscurity Low
er down to the south is the first and second
magnitude star Affair in the EAGLE II,
may be known from being the largest Of three
stars arranged in line, and from being sitnsted
in rich portion OF the milky way. Not far awav
is the diamond of small stars that marks the Dol
phin, and, in the northeast. slowly rising with
majestic grace, is the great square of Pepasu,
Below Pegasus is q wide range of sky sroropris-
ted to Pisces, and sinRularly devoid of visible
stars, through which the planet Saturn ia now
pursuing his slow course in his brightest phase,
and under unusually favorable conditions for OBJ
servation. Far her south is Caprcorpus reioc
| ing 10 few noticeable stars, but houored now nv
the presence of the brightest of oil the train the
planet Jupiter. Next to the constellation nm the
right and extending 10 the southwest 10 Sspittsrius
easily traced from his bent bow resting nm The
Milky Way, while still farther west Scorpio. with
It's brilliant Antaris is slowly sinking below the
horizon. Northwest of Arcturus the cluster called
Coma Berenices is setting and between A rrtnrus
and Lyrs, hes the semicircle Of stars forming the
blszed for few nights and then disappeared.
We have pointed out only the more ;mnor,spt
stars and clusters that are prominent in the Sep
TENDER sky. Any Intelligent observer can trace
them for himself and enlarge the sphere by con
su Ting reliable star maps We shall cav no,h;na
Of the circumpolar stars which in our latitude
never set, for these can be seen at all of
the year. and we wish to direct the attention only
to those beamlng orbs that adorn the skies in the
early autumn we nave gwen but the bare ske
eton of the celestial picture some Of the stars and
clusters with which the student must became
familiar before he can appreciate the romantic in
terest with which science surrounds these little
orbs. The stars apparently so fixed and serene
80 pure and passonless, are in reality In q sta Of
incessant commoton Some are drifting towards
us, some are receding from us; stars are diving
and stars are being born; and the sun with his
eighteen million brother suns in the milky way is
moving towards some ce ntral point which no as
troromer has succeeded 10 locating.
Millions of meteors descend every night through
our atmosphere dissolved in showers OF fiery rains
variable stars lend their uncertain light to the
scene, ready to burst forth into conAagration a,
any momeut. and show US what NAV be the fate OF
our own sun, a member of the class; double star
bear witness to the strange phenomenon of suns
revolving around suns; planets wander back and
forth IN their cratic course and comets are liable
when least expected to dart fl ON the depths of the
fathomles- ether.
stars are the alphabet of astronomy. and tho c
who would explore the depths of the noblest of all
the sciences must know the names and position of
the stars as isuarly as the letters of the alpha
bet.
The stars and clusters here pointed out NAV be
found at nine O'Clock the Sth at balf.past eight
on the 18th and at eight on the 23d of Septem he
A month hence and the star map will be changed.
for the stars rising at nine O'Clock will then
be thirty degrees above the horizon. and the stars
that are setting will be rs far below the no.
rizon. But the October stars will roll up 10 take
their places, and the cycle viii not be complete /
till the revolving months have marked an entire
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