Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-01-21
THE WINTER STARS.
Present Glorious Aspect of
the Heavens.
A TREAT FOR STAR-GAzERS.
Sill Language Of the Evening
Skies.
The Brilliant Panorama that Passes
in Nightly Review over
our Heads
A TREAT FOR STAR-GAzERS.

able, like AiiliOn's hermit. 10
ST and rightly spell
OF ever star thag heaven doth show.
But during the winter, when the i'm
measurable heavens break open to their
highest. and ali the stars shine the
most favorable opportunity Is afforded 10
observe the grandeur Of the celestial
vault. for ~ no other season do the gi0r-
ious urbs Of the fgmdmcnt appear so bril-
liant and attractive. To lovers of a.
ironnmy 30 is d delight 10 'lold com
munion with the celestial hosts on the
frosty but clear and beautiful nights Of
the winter when the brightest stars are
visible. and the most charming views Of
the heavens may be observed to reward
the patience Of observers.
The glorious aspect Of the evening sky
In winter c1mpeusItes in no small degree
for the dralriuCss and desOlutiOn which
usually Characterize our terrestrial sur
ruundiugs NJ this season OF the year: and
this is particularly true in reference To
the frigid appearance Of the polar regions.
Let lis Inn iue, n We can, the feelings OF
a navigator ia the far north, when he
is able 70 observe the stars ON his terri-
bic winter uighi-l period az the two
poles Of the six months duration The
charming aspect Of our northern SKY in
winter. combined with the eyerchanging
tiuts Of the Iururil lights. must cousid-
Drably mitigate tile lethargy and solitude
u those who iri8b.t the frlgil regions
VI oar northern attitudes. / has been
said thar "a sailor halls star as az old
friend aud this mist be trpecilly true
10 reference 10 lhe lonely explorers who
navigate the cold and treachcrOus waters
in the np'ghh0rh00l Of the arctic circle.
Humboldt has written very elOquently
concerning the spend0r Of the starry
heavens IN the equatorial regions, but
they cannot far -urpass, even 81 they
equal, the magnificent appearance Of our
evening ornament al this season of tie
ycnr; aud II anything seems well calcu-
lated 10 inspire one with emotional
love for astronomy Il is certainly the
charming scenery of our nocturnal heav-
ems in winter. Some Of the most bril-
liant discoveries that have rewarded the
observations Of astronomers were made
nn cold but favorable winter night, when
The celestial objects have shOue with uu-
usual sppulOr There is q striking con-
trlst between 'the irretrieyab.e summer
sky"--as u late astronomer has rightly
called it.-aud thai which is presented to
our view during the winter season. In
fact, SO different Is the aspect, and 50
unlike are the conditions for making i'm
p0rtant observations that the evening
SKY In summer has but few attra cti0ns
TO the practical astronomer, owing
chiefly 10 the hazy and huctuating state
of the atmosphere at that season of the
year. . -
During the winter months the celestial
orbs present their grandest and most at
tracGyc appearance The brightest and
most conspicuous stars IN the ornament
are visible on winter evenings, and i'm
mcnse consultations, meaudcring over a
large extent Of the heavens. continue
above the horizon throughout the entire
night. presenting a SCENE as beautiful as
| il Is beyond description. Gigantic stel-
! lar uggrcrl lions rise mnjcshcally in the
| East, cross the meridian, ana sink ia
| silent beauty toward the Western hori-
| zln. Iuterspersed among the twinklng
stars which adorn the winter heavens
are some Of the planetary Orhs, which
! also rise and set in company with their
fixed" companions, along the great belt
| Of the zodinc-a mighty train of "ce-
| lestinl wanderers
Star clusters Of various sizes aud
ncar.y every variety Of form occupy a
| prominent part in producing the beauty
| Of our winter evening sky, and when a
| fiery meteor suddenly darts acnnss the
| arch of heaven much interest and gran
| deur are added TO the celestial scene.
| But the spectacle is greatly increased in
| It's mngn'ticcnce during tile absence of
| the moon. when the armament appears IN
| It's most imnosing Crandcur-El glowing with
| 'liyiar snuuhircs''-and every star seems
| like q diamond In the sky II Is when
| contemplating the silent procession of the
| concentrating the silent presence OF the
| these lines Of the poet have q peculiar
| charm and the significance for those who
admire the glories OF the ornament;
| Thus monstrous forms, DER heavens noe
Seen US W. eagc. in pomp celestial march,
| See Aries there, his glittering bow IN
| And ragng Taurus toss his horns Of gold
! Win beuded bow ths eullcn archer lowers
| And there Aquarium comes With all ms
! showers.
| lions ami centaurs, gnrsons, hydras rise,
| And gods aud heroes blaze along the skies
To relieve the monojony Of long and
| tedious winter evening there are few
| amuscmeuts more pleasant and profit
| able than "star gazing, and the inspira-
/ tlon one receives at this seas0n In oh
| serving the beauties of the armament
| fully cnmpensates for the disadvantages
of q cold and uncomfortable atmosphere.
| Some enthusiastic writer has humorously
| remarked, During January and Rebru
| ary the heavens present the most inter
esiine appearance 10 the naked eye
| Tds IA not exactly In accordance with
Inc aeruRi fitness of things, hecaus.
few people stop TO examine the condition
| Of the heavens when the mercury Is ~
or 30 degrees below zefo tsic). Under
such circumstances The heavens nave tC
look ON for themselves.
Such an enormously low temperntur,
"a the above writer mentions would Ger
tainly prove unpleasant, and dlecourag,
any persDn who enjoys an occasiona
survey OF the heavens nt this sousOn
Those who are not euoueh interested q
improve the excellent opportunity nov