Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02


ceda. but too low to be seen well. In the
no -theast are the Swan (Cygnus). better
known as the Northern Cross. and the Tyre
QIyra). whose bright star. Vega, is the rival
of Arcturus in brilliancy. The Eagle
(Aquila), distinguished by the bright star
Affair, has Just risen in the east. The region
between east and south IS occupied by the
Serpent, the Serpent holder (Ophiuchus).
the Scorpion. containing the bright star
Antares and Libra, the Scales. Virgo, the
Virgin. Of which Spica is the principal star,
Is in the south. Stretched above the hori-
zon, from west to south, is the enormous
Hydra on whose back stand the Cup
(Crater) and the Crow (Corvus). The Lion
Q1eo) is toward the west. Low in the north
west are the Twins, Castor and Pollux, and
between north and northwest, Auriga- con-
tanning the bright star Capella, Is still part
" above the horizon
The seven brighter stars Of the Bear form
the well-krown D.pper. or, as our English
cousins prefer to call this striking group,
the Plow. They are often referred to by the
names given them by the Arab astronomers.
These names. beginning with the star on the
extreme right. as the Dipper is now placed,
are Dubhe, Merak. Phad. Megrez. Alioth,
Mar and Benetnasch. The first four form
the bowl OF the Dipper and the remaining
three its handle. These stars are of the
second magnitude, with the exception of
Megrez, which is Of the third
AIcor, the Tester.
Just abovs and very close to the star
Nizar is a faint star, to which the Arabs
gave the name Alcor, the Tester. consider
ing an ability to see Il proof of good eye
sight The star can readily be seen on a
clear night by any one whose eyes are
tulerably good. fact which has led some
astronomers to think that 1t has gained in
brflliancy within the past few hundred
years. An opera glass brings the star out
very prettily. A telescope of even moderate
power Will show that the larger star. Mizar.
Il dOuble-that is, II consists of two stars
% close together that to the naked eye and
even through an opera glass they appear
"a one. This is one OF the prettiSst objects
OF its class for a very small telescope. and
Il has the advantage over many others Of
being very easy to find.
Mar has lately been brought into promi-
hence in the astronomical world through
the discovery made by Prof. Pickering Of
the Harvard College observatory, that, be-
sides its long-known companion star, 1t has
another companion SO close that IL cannot
be Separated from 1t even with the most
powerful telescope 1t WAS found. some
three or four years ago, that in series OF
photographs of the spectrum of this star
there was a periodical doubling Of the
spectral lines, which Prof Pickering ex-
plained due 10 the faCt that the light of
MiZar really comes from two sources, which
revolve about each other in a period Of 1O4
days, each star alternately approaching and
receding from US in its orbital course.
Prof Pickering reached a further conclu-
sion by what seems TO be sound reasoning,
that the distance of Mizar from us is about
p.0la9ty times that of the sun. a stretch of
spGce SO enormous that the stars light re-
oaireS ueariy 80 years to flash its way
acr.oss IL The combined masses of the two
luminous bodies Of which Mizar consists are
forty times that Of the sun. and the orbit in
which they revolve about each other is
solar system There are, Of course. many
elements of uncertainty in the calcula tons
by which these results are reached; but the
FACT that In case Ike this any conclusions
can fairly Be made affords one nIustration
az the power of photography applied to the
study Of the stars
The stars Dubhe and Nerak are known as
the Pointers" They lie nearly in line
with and thus point to the Pole star. No
matter where the Dipper may be seen,
whrther above or below. to the right or to
the left OF the Pole star, that star may al
WAYS be found by running a line from
Mcrak through Dubhe and CONTINUING, IL he
yond 70 a distance about equal to the Dip
EerS length The distance between the two
Pointers Is almost exactly five degrees so
tat they have additional use az a sort
OF celestial foot-rule-
The Pole Star.
The Pole star may also be recognized
easily from its position at the end of the
handle Of the Little Dipper-the tip of the
rather long tail OF the Little Bear OJrsa
Minerl The pair of stars in this group cor
responding to the Pointers In the Great
Dirpcr are sometimes called the Guardians
Of the Pole. These stars and the Pole star
Itself are OF the second magnitude and are
much brighter than the remaining stars of
the group
II was by this constellation. rather than
by any single star, that the ancient Greek
and PhOeniCian sailors directed their course
at night the Two Guardians being 1000
years agO much nearer the true pole Of the
heavens Than was the star which at the
present time very nearly marks it's place
One OF the names h which the constella-
ton was known TO the Greeks was Cyno-
Bura- The name means, literally, dogs
tsiL" and ii would seem to indicate that
this ssfe-isIn was sometimes regarded as a
dog rather than bear, particular stress
being laid ON the great length Of its caudal
appendage- The name survives in our word
~cynOsure-" applied to object which, like
the old constellation, attracts all eyes
Winding its tortuOuS length above and
partly around the Little Bear ia the ORA
eon Dracol The trace of il given on the
MISUNDERSTANDING the coils, which may
be found on the chart-should enable one