The Wilmingtonian., 1883-09-22
THE SEPTEMBER SKY3o
TSEcoND PAPER. !
For Tnf wnNlSeToNIAN.

[SECoND PAPER.
For The wILN lEeToNIAN.
In glancing over the heavens last week
our attention was mainly directed to the
planets. This week we will vary the pro
gramme by a survey Of the more interesting
fixed stars which adorn the September Sky.
The brightest of these do not shine out till
early morning, but four or five frst-magni-
tude stars may be seen up to ten. o'clock in
the evening. Ii the hour Of observation be
eight p m. the following bright stars are
| apparent Nearly overhead but declining
little to the west is Vega, the principal
| star in the Constellation Lyra; it is OF a
| clear blue color Low down in the South
westiis Antares, in the Constellation Scor-
pic, red star, twinkling vivaciously. Inc
Western sky is decorated with a very con
spicuous star, the brightest in the Northern
| heavens; its name is Arcturus and its hue is
pure white. Away to the Northeast, just
clearing the horizon is seen the brilliant
star Capella, in the constellation Auriga.
| At this same hour, p. m. the telescope
reveals many objects of interest, though the
| planets are, as explained IN the last paper,
only to be seen in the Morning Sky. But
the following objects may be seen to advan-
tage in ordinary telescopes, of two or
three inches aperture.
Turning to the constellation Ursa Major,
Familiarity known as THE Dlpper' and di-
lecting the telescope to the middle star of
the three forming the handle a very pretty
picture is presented. Even with the naked
eye small star may be seen very close to
the middle one, and just above it. The
large star is called Mizar; the smaller one
| Aicor or 1.-THE test 1t being regarded by the
Arabians who discovered it, as a test Of
keenness of sight. In the telescope Alcor is
of course easily seen. We also find that the
| instrument shows that the large star MizaT
is composed of two stars, very close to each
other, while third star of the eighth mag
nitude, not visible to the naked eye comes
ont on the right. 49,
Mizar is what astronomers call a ''doublt
STAR" that is the occurrence of two stars Sc
closely in the same optical line that thei
rays appear as one. There are numerous
other examples, of which we shall know
more anon. 5@ETS J8EH s
The Pole Star is easily found by prolong
ing the line of the two outermost stars il
the handle of The Dipper upwards and tt
the right till it falls on a tolerably brigh
solitary star in field of view where few
other stars appear. Seen in good teles
cope the Pole Star is found to be attende,
by tiny companion star Of the 9th magni
tude.
One thing win be speedily noticed b.
even an ordinary observer. 1t is that whe
the telescope is directed to any other stal
the latter is very plainly seen to NOV
across the field of vision, while tn
. Pole Star does not change its place.
: The motion of the star is only apparer
: and like that of the Sun and Moon risin
Q and setting, being duo 20 the fact that I'll
e Earth is revolving in contrary direction
+ The Pole star being very nearly parallel
y the Earth's axis of rotation does not pa
e take Of this apparent motion. If howeve
a a powerful telescope be directed at the Pc
It Star and clamped SO as to keep it pointed {
the same spot, the star will be seen to trav'
!, very slowly out of the field, because tt
G Pole Star is not situated exactly at I'll
y North point of the Heavens but little owe
y degree from it.
y II the line drawn from the Dipper to I'll
Pole Star be prolonged to an equal distant
81 on the opposite side, it will fall upon IL
e constellation Cassiopeia, consisting Of fl,
/ stars in the form of a ''W'' thus