Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-07-21
MAP OF MARS.

The next most conspicuous star is Mars,
two hours In time west of Jupiter. This
planet resembles the earth in many par.
ticulars. II has been studied with great
care, as the illustration suggests. The
dark outlines are water and the light por-
tions land. II is seen that 1t has four
continents. These have been named Her.
schel, Dawes, Modler and Secchi, and IL
is also seen that railroad might extend
around the planet on the equator by max.
ing few bridges. The large body Of water
containing an island Is named Delarue
sea, and the mass in the other hemisphere
Dawes ocean. On the land artificial
canals have recently been announced,
though their existence is not proven
This planet has two moons, but they are
SO small that If one should drop some
night upon the city halls of New York.
Chicago or st. Louis. the debris would
not cover one-half of these cities. One Of
them fies around Mars In much less time
than it takes the planet to turn upon its
axis. A bright little star near Mars Is
named Spica Virgins, spica meaning
sheaf of corn. Both these stars will set
little after midnight on the 22d, so that
they must be looked for early in the even
ing, ~
4ue neAt oplect tnat VIII attract atten-
tion will be the great fixed star Arcturus
in the western sky after 8 o'clock. 1t lies
OF the handle of the Dipper or tail of the
Great Bear, This star is distinguished
as one OF the twenty whose distance from
the earth has been measured. This dis
taree is so enormous that If the star
should be annihilated while you are looking
at 1t, twenty-five years and eight months
nnnlH hara m hafnro he Co 4
be verified. That is. 1t would take that
time before light starting from it on the
night Of the 22d could reach the earth,
though coming at the rate of 200, 900 miles
In second of time. 1t takes fifteen figures
to give this distance In miles. thus: 1S4,
500 900 600, 900, or one ehundred and eighty.
five trillion miles nearly.
East OF Arcturus are Vega and Altar, Of
dazzling whiteness. The distance Of
Vega in the Tyre is also known and it
takes light twenty-on years and three
months TO pass between it and the earth
Altar is the large central star of three in
line In the milky way. The constella-
top is called Aquila, or the Eagle, Its
distance is not known.
Near the Lyre is the beautiful constel-
lation Cygnus. or the Swan. Its princi.
pal stars form cross. Here is the double
star, Sixty one Cygni. 1t is double, and II
takes light only six and a half years 10
reach us from this sun. 1t is one of the
most beautiful telescope objects in the
heavens, and common three or four
foot telescope brings it out lInely. Next
TO Alpha Centauri in the southern
hemisphere this star is nearest of all Ia
us whose distance has been calculated.
At midnight the Swan will have passed
the meridian and be slowly turning to
dive down below the western horizon.
Do not forget the Pole Star, also
double, and whose light is exactly fifty
years in reaching che earth. The pointers
Of the Dipper guide you to it. 1t is the
only stationary star in the northern
hemisphere.
II you stay up until the eclipse ends
the great square of Pegasus will appear
In the northeast, followed by the splendid
constellation Andromoda. To enjoy the
view thoroughly a little practice two oil
three nights before the eclipse occurs
should be taken.