The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1892-04-09
PROMINENT STARS OF APRIL.
Those Of Magnitude Which Will This
Month Adorn the Heavens.


Nine stars OF the first magnitude
are now above the horizon at 8 p.
m. Six of them-Capella, Aide
bdran. Procyon, Sirius, Betelgeust
and Rigel-are grouped in aud
around the constellation Oriou.
In the east, at about one-third
of the distance from the horizon to
the zenith, is Arcturus, the Bear
warden, in the constellation Bootes,
the Herdsman. This is usually
accounted the brightest star in the
northern skies. its only rival being
Vega, in the Tyre, which at the
hour named has just peeped above
the horizon, in the northeast. The
ninth star is Spica, the wheat.ear,
IN the constellation Virgo. 1t l.
now in the southeast, at about one
fourth the distance from the
horizon to the zenith.
A few of the consultations only
are sufficiently well marked to be
readily pointed out. Everyone Is
familiar with Orion, which may
now he seen reclining on It's left
side just above the horizon in the
west.
Toward the south. at about two
thirds of the distance from the
horizon to the zenith, is Leo, the
brig star in which. Regnlus,
is but "a little less brilliant than
Spica, and was, indeed, formerly
classed as OF the first magnil ude.
Leo contains sub.constellaJion.
the sickle, known to many who
are unacquainted with the Lion
itself. Regulus is the gem in the
handle Of the Sickle; its blade is
formed by curved line of five OF
SIX less brilliant stars. To the left
of the Sickle may be seen a small
rectangular figure, formed by -four
stars. This marks the hind-quar.
ters of the Lion, the Sickle form
ing his head and.shoulders.
Almost directly overhead may
be 81 en- the Great Dipper-tht
Arthnr's or Chales VAIN of old
English literature, the Plough, az
the English now prefer to call this
striking group of seven staIs. Like
the Sickle, the Dipper is a popular
rather than an Astronomical con-
stellatiOn. Ii forms the hind quart
ers and tail of the Usra Major, OF
Great Bear, a celestial monster
which is otherwise SO ill-defiDe
that one will hardly he repaid fol
seeking its outlines without aid Ol
a celestial chart.
The seven stars of the "dipper'
are often referred to by their Ara
bic names. Beginning with the
outermost star ia the bowl, arc
taking them in order, they art
Dnbhe, Merak, Pbad and Meg es
in the bowl, and Aliotn, Mlzar and
Benetnasch in the handle. Very
close to Mizar is a faint star called
Alcor, the Tester, so named be.
cause an ability to see 1t was con.
sidered a proof OF good eyesight
Dabhe and Mizar are also know 1
as the gPointers,' since they ar,
nearly in liue with and thus sefv.
to point out the Pole star, which i
distant from them about five time:
their distance apart. The Pole stai
is of the second magnitude. On
cannot miss il, as there is no 0thei
star of equal brightness near it.
The Pole star is at the tip of th'
tail oflhe Little Bear (Ursa MInor)
popularIy known as the Little Dip
per. This constellation ancientl'
subserved very important use. |
was the compass of the Greet
PhnnicIan mariners by which the.
dire tied their coulse at night, Il
two brighter stars-the pair whlcl
correspond in position With tn