Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-06
The Starry Skies.

These calm, beautiful evenings of
the early Summer are peculiarly
adapted to the exercise. ard practice
of amateur astronomers. There are,
just now, greater number of the
chief glories of the heavens visible
than at any other part of the year.
Especially may this be said of those
brilliant objects so eminently adapted
to testing the skill a young observ-
ers and the good qualities of their
instruments. From the going down
! of the sun, till earliest dawn, many
of the leading brilliants of the great
armament are passing in glorious
review before the ravished eye of the
night watcher. The star Sirius, the
brightest solitaire of our heavens,
leads the van, while Vega, the prin-
cipal gem ofthe North and Antares,
the fiery red" twinkler of the Scor-
pion's heart, are little behind in
point of dazzling splendor. Young
astronomers will do we'll to remem-
Der that but small magnifyine
power is required to view, with great
satisfaction, many of the objects of
ensrossing interest that now present
themselves. Even in the use of the
largest telescopes, the lower powers
are chosen by experts, for general
observation, throughout the whole
concave of the armament.
A common opera glass, on account
of its low power and large field of
view, as we'll as its adaptability to
both eyes at once, is an invaluable
aid to the student in tracing constel-
lat;ons. An astronomical telescope
of three inches aperture, serves all
needful purposes in pursuing the
first studies of the lunar surface.
Another advantage afforded by an
instrument Of moderate size, is, be-
sides its portableness, the ease and
facility with which it can be used
upon table before an open window,
when the object to be observed is at
low elevation.
The history of the science records
the fact that very many of the grand
est discoveries of the past and pres
ent centuries, were made by astrono-
mers who possessed inferior instru-
ments. Indeed, q true lover Of this
sublime science can find an ample
field of research and instructive con-
temptation without having anything
to do with practical manipulation.
The early astronomers had little or
nothing to help themselves with, and
yet, by dint of indefatigible study,
they acquired fair knowledge Of the
essential principles of the solar sys-
tenn. Since the sun passes through
the twelve signs of the Zodiac in q
year, there is an opportunity for an
interested student to attain a pretty
thorough knowledge of all the prin-
cipal consultations without hard
study.
There are instances on record OF
common seamen and shepherds MAX
ing themselves masters of the gen.
eral theory of the solar and stellar
systems, with no other means of OBJ
tanning such knowledge than their
lowly vocation could furnish. BY
always having nautical almanac at
hand, seamen very soon become ia
miliar with the names and motions
of the planets, as we'll as the names
and positions Of the fixed stars.
Moonlight may be sentimental, but
starlight is sublime.
Our Seattle neighbors are still am
bitiously working for the wagon road.
Another largo mass meeting was
held there on last Saturday evening,
and among the speakers we note
the names of Mayor Brown, Judge
| JonobS Maccro MoGi1-,ro NJ,