Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-08-05
STARS WE MEYER SEE.
rhc South Pole oil the Heavens and
its t.lOrie,,

its tlOries.
Hartford Times writer, in series of
articles entitled "ArouLd the Heavens" |
says: The South Pole of the heavens
being never visible in North America all |
we know of its starry region is gathered |
from celtS tial globes, star charts, and
what the astronomers aud travellers say.
There are fine observatories in Australia,
at cape of Good Hope and other southern
localities. This large region Of the
heavens is, like the ether regions, divided
into consultations, most of them located
and named by modern observers who
have departed from the grand old
style of the ancents, and assigned them
very common place figures and names,
such rs Horologium, Phoenix, Toucan,
Celia Sculptoria, Machine Electora, Octans,
Pavo Chameleon, and so on
The Ship, Arg0 Oantaurus (Argo navis),
and the Southern Cross, are exceptions
| indeed they are old consultations Iioro-
| logiunl, represented by an old fashioned
clocktace, placed Just ut the terminus of
the river Eridanus The other above
mentioned considerations are not particu-
larly noticeable, except the Cross, Cen
taurus and the Ship. We can see the upper
part of the Ship, To locate il We will look
at Sirius. Let this star be at the northern
angle Of an equilateral triangle; drawing
line from this to the brightest star in
Noah's Dove tthe second constellation
directly south Of Orion, make base line
eastward for nearly the same distance, to a
bright star called Naos; from thence to
Sirius. Macs is second magnitude star
in the PROV Of the Ship.
At point seven degrees south of this
star is another of the same magnitude
, called Gamma; this, when on the meridian
can be seenabout adegree above the south
ern horizon, and it is also on the circle Of
3 pole stars around the south pole of the
$ ecliptio; and when Delta Cygnus becomes
our north pole star Gamma will be the
south pole star. The brightest star in this
a constellation is Campus, first magnitude
4 star fifteen degrees southwest of Gamma,
and never visible in the United States.
Z 1t is said to have been named after one OF
a the pilots of that famous ship AIg0, when
a on the Golden Fleece expedition recorded
. in mythology. East of Campus twenty
4 five degrees is another first magnitude
q star, Beta.
i In ALL there are said to be more than G.
# visible stars in this constellation, besides
If the two of the first magnitude. and it is
I; very brilliant region. East, and adjoining
n this, is the great constellation Centaurus-
# represented by a pictured monster, hal
d man aud half horse. We only see tn
If upper part Of this constellation, living Low
> on the horizon, south of Spica Virgins
n 1t has tive stars Of the first magnitude
Al one of which is the famous Alpha Cen
I'd tauri-the nearest star to our solar system
10 1t is three times nearer than any othe
II sun, to our sun ard system but this
not so very close-for it would take light
ic travelling at the rate of about 200 600 mile
,e a second, something over three years I
"a reach it,
A Beta is another first magnitude stal
ye and is about . west of Alpha A lin
10 drawn from Arcturus, when on the Iner
a dian, directly south to the South Pole
N. would pass between the two stars. The
are some IL below our horizon. Abol
to the same distanee west Of these two sta
lie is the celebrated southern Gross. which
e. a small cluster Of second and third nagn
IT. tude stars, with one very blillieut frs
or magnitude star, and all on dimond lpai
of gled, dark ground of the Milky Wa
r; Astronomers in Melbourne describe Il
m. sight in their great refectors as being III
ed surpassed in ell the skies. A line d,
ev south of BereniGe'd Hair, when on IL
tai meridian. would pass through the Gros
his Another sight in these far southern ski
20. is shown in the wonderful Magellan
ed Clouds. These remarkable nebulous appea
he anoes are seen near the south pole Of Il
he ecliptic. They are called by astronome
val Nubeculic-Major and Minor. They a
pg plainly visible to the unaided eye loo
AN ing not unlike a small section of the Mill
out Way. These ''Magellanic Clouds a
8 a quite different In appearance from 9th
my neDule. When seen IN the treat four ft
Try Melbourne reflector, they are described
md presenting a system Of wonderful COZ
ed plexity, partiularly the largest. Indee
the 1t seems to be universe of itself.
RIM