The daily gazette., 1881-07-02
Cel.,s,.l scenery Of Miasunlner.

Celestial scenery Of Midsummsr.
Beside the comet which promises TO
adorn the circumpolar sky for several
weeks, the July nights will possess many
attractions for those who seek relief
from the oppressive heat indoors BY
strolling in parks and airy places, or
who take refuge 1t the seashore or upon
the roofs OF the city. There is no more
entertaining knowledge than that Of the
stars. Carlyle recognized this, and re-
gretfully exclaimed: "Why did not
somebody teach me the coHstellAtions
|. and make me at home in the starry bea-
vens, which are always overhead, and
which don't half know TO this dayW
A night or two Of study with . star map
in hand will enable any oneto recognize
the principal constellationsi that are
above the horizon at the time. In little
while he will no longer be at loss to
distinguish the planets from the fixed
stars.
The planets visible to the naked eye
will, during the month, be oil In the
morning sky, and their conjunctions
and eyolutions will be well worth wit
Messing. On the 9th, Mars and Saturn
Will be In conjunction; ON the 14th, Mars
and Neptane;, on the 22d, Mars and Ju.
piter. In the latter part Of the month
the moon will pass near Jupiter, Mars,
Neptune, 8 turn, and Venus in success
sion, making asplsndid spectacle. But
the chief interest in this gathering ofthe
planets for the possessor OF telescope
b In The opportunity 1t gives for seeing
and comparing all these worlds within
the space Of few minutes. After View
ing Mars, with his snowy poles and rad
dish-huedi continents, the observer, In
halfA minute, can have in the iisid Of
his telescope Saturn, with bis rings, or
the huge, belted, and spotted disk Of
Jupiter and his four round moons, or
the splendid crescent Of Venus, or the
green globe Of distant Neptune, which
Is further from the sun than some of
the comets 60.
The principal considerations visible 10
July evenings may be recognized by
their leading ftars. Everybody knows
that the Great Bear and Little, Bear
which revolve about the North Star, and
in this latitude, never set. The Lyre,
which is tabled to lead the music Of the
cpuoi0o ID unoIly ONoAuobu euOub boh
o'clock, and may be known by the bril-
liant blueish star Vega, which has two
little stars close by 1t, making 4 small
triangle. The Eagle Is southeast of the
Lyre, and the bright star Altar fanked
on either hand by q small star, serves
to point 1t out. East Of the Lyre is the
Northern Cross, which needs No mark
to Distinguish 1t, % its form is almost
perfect. In the southwest near the hort.
zon, is The Scorpion, the most brilliant
OF the summer consultations, and easi-
ly recognized by ats long cloaked form,
and by the splended red star Antares,
which marks the heart. Half way down
In the southwest is Bostes the Bear
driver, chasing at the heels Of the Great
Bear, and rendered conspicious by the
splendor Of the great star Areturus fam
ing upon bis knee. This 10 ono of the
most celebrated stars IN the sky, and 1t
bears the distinction Of being the only star
mentioned In the Bible. The fact particu
larly interesting just now that in 1868
Arcturus attracted the a.
tentionof the whole scientific world be-
cause the grand comet of that year pas
sed over 1t. Astronomers watched the
phenomenon with the greatest interest,
In order to determine what effect II
would have upon the appearance of the
star.