Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03

ma Andromedae. a nearly right-angled tri-
angle. On a celestial chart this star is To-
Gated In the head of Medusa, which Perseus
carries in his left hand.
The blinking Demon.
AlGol. the blinking Demon as il was
called by the Arabs. is an exceedingly inter-
esting variable star. After maintaining for
about two and a half days its ordinary
splendor as star of the second magnitude
il begins to lose its brilliancy and at the end
of three and half hours it has faded to a
star OF the fourth magnitude. In this con-
oition ii ;emains fifteen or twenty minutes
and then begins to brighten, and In three
and a half hours IL has again become a star
of the second magnitude thus to remain for
another period OF two and a half days. The
generally accepted explanation Of this sin
gular behavior of Algol is that II is at
tended hF a dark satellite which revolves
around IL, and, at regular intervals, passing
between us and IL. cuts on a portion OF its
light. On three evenings of this month
''minima" of Algol will occur at hours IA
vorable for observing them. On the 10th IL
VIII begin to wane at about 10 pm. CWash-
lngton mean time) and will reach its mimi
mum of brightness half hour after mid
night. On the 10Th its minimum will occur
at 9:24 pm, and on the 22d at 6:13 pm.
Another remarkable variable star-so re-
markable that IL has been given the rame
Mira the Wonderful-is in the constella-
ton Cetus uhe whale), which at pm. is
now only partly above the horizon, a little
south of west. Miras period is much longer
than that OF Algol and its habits are more
eccentric Ordinarily IL is a telescope star,
away below the limits of the naked eye
But occasionally it takes a freak and begins
to brighten. After awhile 1t becomes yisi-
BILE to the naked eye. and in about forty
days thereafter 1t has attained its greatest
brilliancy, which is usually that of star
OF the second magnitude. Then IL begins
to wane. and at the end of three months IL
is again lost to the naked eye.
Mira runs the cycle Of its changes in an
average period of 332 days. although IL may
depart from this period one way or the
other, to the extent Of nearly a month, so
that its return to splendor cannot be pre-
dicted with certainty. A maximum of this
very interesting star is due this month, and
it will therefore be well to keep an eye on
the spot where ii should be seen. as lndi-
Gated on the planisphere. The best time
for observing it will be early in the even
ing, while the constellation is well above
the horizon. The star Menkar CMkD, in the
head of Cetus. is OF the second magnitude
and makes good comparison star for
Mira. when in sight Observe that Menkar
Is at about one-third of the distance from
Mira to Aldebaran.
Mira's Brilliancy.
Mira's maximum Of brilliancy is irregular
as well as its period. Sometimes when at
its brightest il is more brilliant than the
star Menkar. but more often IL is inferior
to that star. On a few occasions it has
failed altogether to make its customary ep-
pearance.
The beautiful little cluster of the plei-
AIDES, a short distance TO the right of Aide
baran and above Jupiter, hardly needs to
be pointed out as a fine object for an opera
glass. Close beside Aldebaran is the W
shaped cluster known as the Hyades, which
is also a splendid object for that instru-
ment. Another fine opera glass field is the
region around Regulus, in the sickle
About midway between the star Alpha
Persei and the center of Cassiopeia may be
seen on a clear evening a little feck OF neb-
illus light. which a telescope of even mod
crate power resolves into a beautiful star
cluster. 1t is in the handle of the sword
Of Perseus. The cluster is double, there be-
ing in ii two points at which the stars are
particularly crowded. Seen through a good
telescope. this is undeniably the most beau
tiful object Of its class.
At about one-third of the distance from
Pollux to Regulus, in the constellation Cam
Ger. is another fine telescope star cluster
known as Praesepe the bee hive Both of
these clusters may be seen with an opera
glass; although to bring out their full beau
ty requires a more powerful instrument
There are now above the horizon MANY
fine double stars which yield to an instru-
ment of low power. A few of them which
may be found readily, may be pointed out
The star Mizar-the middle star i'm the
handle of the dipper-is double and may
be separated with a good field glass or, at
any rate, with an ordinary spy glass"
Its components are both white, one some
what smaller than the other.
Gamma Andromedae is a colored double
and is not very difficult object. Its COM
ponents are orange and green. 1t is one of
the most beautiful of colored doubles for
a small telescope.
Castor is also very fine wide" double
Its components are white and are of about
equal splendor.
Another very pretty double. but one
which requires a somewhat higher power
for separating 1t, is Gamma Leonis. the
third star in the sickle, reckoned from
Regulus.
The Planets.
Mercury will be an evening star through
out the month. 1t reaches its greatest east
ern "elongation" on the 25th, and for a few
days about that time 1t may be looked for
low in the west a half hour or SO after sun
set.
Venus shone with her greatest brilliancy
on the 10th Of last month. and since then
has been rapidly drawing in toward the
sun. On the 4th of this month she will be
but one hour to the eastward of the sun
and will be too low at sunset to be visible
Her inferior conjunction with the sun oc-
ours on the 18th. After that date she will
be morning star.
Mars is now a morning star, rising at
about l am.
Jupiter is still a splendid evening star,
remaining above the horizon until after 1
am On the 14th he will be in quadrature
with the SUM-
Saturn is an evening star, rising now
, at about IL pm. Uranus in the constella-
ton Virgo. rises at about midnight Nep-
tune Is In Taurus, about one hour and
twenty minutes in advance of Jupiter. but.
OF course. invisible to the naked eye.