Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-03

did opera glass field. The Dolphin, in the
west, should also be examined; and while
the observer has his glass in his hand let
him not fail TO sweep with II the Swan,
and form some faint idea of how this Sec
ton of the heavens, one of the richest pr
tons of the Milky Way, appears when ex-
amined through a large telescope. I'm
fortunately the neon is now shining at
O'Clock; but II will set in an hour or so.
and the eastern consultations will then be
In a still better position for observing.
About midway between Cassiopeia and
the bright star in Perseus may be seen a
little f1eck of nebulous light, perhaps as
large as the Pleiades, which even an opera
glass will show to be q star cluster. 1t is
the famous cluster in the handle CT the
sword of Perseus. Unfortunately for us a
telescope of &C psiderable power Is required
to reveal it in its full glory. When thus
seen. 1t is, undeniably, the finest object OF
its class in the heavens. The cluster is a
double one, there being in 1t two points
about which its stars are particularly con-
centrated
The nebuIa in Andromeda also can only
be seen Well through large telescope; but
with even an opera glass ii can be seen
to be something quite different from an
ordinary star, and, in fact, 1t was discover
cd before the invention of the telescope.
1t lies near the uppermost of the three stars
which form the belt of Andromedai At .
o'clock tomorrow night 1t will be very
nearly In the zenith Gamma Andromedae
the lowermost now of the three brighter
stars in the onstella tion-is a splendid col
cred double. star. 1t has but one equal,
Beta Cygni. in the head of the Swan.
Eta Cassiopeiae-the small star between
the two which form the second downward
stroke of the wis also fairly easy
double. Its components are white and
purple. Another easily found double star.
which we might examine-this region Is
full of them-iS the star Gamma Aretis,
In the left horn of the Ram. Although not
oil rn6 hot &c Bnfr, hff
Of nearly equal brightness. 1t is a very
pretty object. and is sufficiently wide to be
separated with n small telescope lambda
Arietis-the small star seen just above a
line joining the two bright stars in the
head of the Ram-is still wider, but it's
components are smaller. The larger one is
white; the smaller has a violet or BLUSH
tint
Display of Metcors.
On the nights of the 18th and 14th of this
month we may expect the usual display of
'I,eonids," as these November meteors arc
now commonly called. Outliers along this
meteor stream may be encountered two or
three evenings earlier than this, and they
will continue to flash cut occasionally as
late as the 1Tth. brt the main display is
due on the dates named. A. nearly full
moon will, however, interfere seriously with
the seeing Of these interesting objects, ex-
diant' of this systematic point from which
they all appear to proceed, IT whatever
part of the heavens they may be scents
in the constellation Leo. which now rises
about midnight. Meteors belonging to the
Leonid group, seen before that hour, will
move in tracks which, traced backward.
will lead to 4 point below the horizon in
the east. .
On the 2sth of the month we shall pass
through another "shoal' of meteors, which
Is 1aite as interesting, although not so rich
in fine specimens as the Lecnids, viz, the
Aniromedes the radiant of which. as the
name Indicates, Is in the constellation An
dromeda. These metecrs are thought to be
the fragmentary remains of Biela's comet,
which has not been seen since 1852. Biela's
comet had a period of six and a half years.
Its orbit was nearly, If not quite, Identical
with this meteor stream. Annually, when
the earth crosses 1t, In the latter part of
November, meteors are encountered in
greater or less numbers, and in those years
when the lost comet Is due they are ex-
ceptionally numerous. The last Shower"
of Ardromedes occurred in 1892; the next
may be expected In 1899 On the 2Sth An
dromeda will be overhead at about 8 pm,
so that meteors belonging to this system
will appear to fall from a point near the
zenith.