The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-04
Astronomy.
For the Young Folks.

The presence OF the Comet has excited and
aroused an unusual interest in Astronomy
throughout II g community. transforming our
plodding and sublunary citizens into star gaz-
ers, who now feel and avow an awakened at
tention to the phenomena of the heavens.
The Transit of Venus, to come off Dec. 9th
contributes its quota; although not much of
display, its rare occurrence, not again appear
ing before June 7th 2O04, period of one hun
bred and twenty-cne and half years, while
the opportunity it affords for determining the
Solar paralax probably with greater accuracy
than ever before, from which will be deduced
the correct magnitude of the Solar system, en-
hances not little the desire to be better ac-
quainted with celestial evoutions, to know
what is going on around us.
Our skies at this time present an unusual OPP
portunity for becoming acquainted with the
Stars; for in our Eastern sky, included in
space less than an eighth of the whole heavens,
one half of the stars OF the first magnitude APP
pear. Indeed, taoo thirds of all that are ever
visible in this latitude are there embraced in
one view.
For the purpose of easy reference and lucid
description we will begin with the Pleades, Of
seven stars, which every one is presumed to
know, and which will appear in the East some
two-thirds of the way from the horizon to the
zenith; and descending thence perpendicular
ly we come successfully to Aldebaran. the
Bull's eye, reddish star of the first magni-
tnde--to the Yard L, or Belt Of Orion, composed
of three stars of the second magnitude, in
right line equidistant and of equal size-snd
y A.. -. -
the fixed stars.
4,vs vutyt-ssvr,, ara IT suuur grgnr ue
grees is BeetergUese in the eastern shoulder or
Orion, while at the same distance in the oppo-
site direction is Rige the bright foot of Orion.
Northward of Sirius abent twenty-five de-
| grees, and nearly the same eastward Of Better
| guese, is the star Procyon in the constellation
| of the Lesser Dog. 1t is reckoned Of the first
| magnitude but is not SO bright Rigei.
Above ard to the left of Procyon about %
degrees are two stars distant from each other
degrees the upper or northernmost being Gas
tor and the other Pollux, in the constellation
of the Twins.
Above the Twins some 80 degrees is Capella
in the constellation Auriga, the WAGNER tue
third in briliaDcy of all the fixed stars, being
| excelled BY Sirius and Canopue alone. The
| latter in Jne constellation OF the Ship Argo
| can never be seen north Of 81 north latitude,
| and seldom north OF 70. 1t is the most beauti-
| ful of all the fixed stars exceplngsSirus.
| The beauty of this portion of the heavens, so
| much above and hey oDd any other equal por-
| ton, is at this time greatly enhanced by the
| presence of the two largest planets of our sys-
| TEN, Jupiter and Saturn
The latter is to the south of the Pleiades
| nearly 9 degrees. 1t is apparently moving 10
the Westward, caused by the more rapid mo
| ton of TIE Earth between it and The Sun, and
| will continue until January 9th, when its
| distance from the stars will be ten and half
| degrees. 1t will be then what is termed sta
| tionary, from which it will proceed in regular
motion easterly, and again approach the Plei-
/ AIDES uearer than before.
Jupiler needs no pointing out. as it is now
/ the brightest star in the heavens, being near
Est to the earth IN ite orbit It's motion is now
| reirograde so t,iat on New Years day it will
| appear degrees west of It's present position.
| Next fall it will be more than 30 degrees east
| Of lis present position and Saturn will appear
| where Jupiter now is among the fixed stars.
! To observe these changes of the heavenly
| bodies affords pleasure, which is increased BY
| practice; and an acquaintance with the fixed
| stars produces, ofttimes, delightful emotions
/ IN the mind of the traveller in distant regions
| by land or sea, the sight of them reminding
| him of home where the same stars appears 1t
| seems like meeting old acquaintances.
i Coming from high southern ATTITUDES, where
| many OF the stars we see here are there below
| tie horizon, il is great qualification to again
behold heir familiar faces as they successfully
| come into view.
In this latitude the stars appear much bright
er IN winter than i'll summer, which some sup
pose is owing TO the temperature Of the air.
bright frosty nighls' is common expression.
But cleaness, not temperature. is the factor
| in the case. On the coast of Peru at the Equa-
tor, they often appear as bright as they ever do
here; and at the WindSard islands of the
West Indies, where the temperature is con-
| staptly above 20 degrees Fahrenheit, through
the night, they are always as bright as in any
| of our clear frosty nights.
The Belt of Orion is in length just five dimes
the Suns mean diameter, affording good
measure in the heavens, hence it is appropri-
atey termed the Yard l..
The stars above named, to wit, the Pleiades,
llaahaRal.- the Bel Of Qlian and Sirius. pre-
-T7T~
rieIades At the TOP and Sirius at the base: bnt
nearly northwest and southeast it will be near
~ level after they pass the meridian as may
he seen if looked for before the morning twi-
light.
In The corresponding latitude south the APP
pearance is reversed, they being seen on a
| level at rising, and at setting perpei dicular,
| with Sirius at the ton. and the Piaiadas I'll q