Evening star., 1895-04-27
Sun and Planets.

is en- the whole poorly marked with stars.
The head of Virgo is near the star Dene-
bola. The feet are toward the east.
Nearly midway from Spica to Denebola
is Gamma Virginis star of the second
magnitude. 1t is the central star of five
which combine to form a broad V-shaped
figure, of which one side extends toward
Regulus, the other toward Arcturus. Named
in order from right to ieft, these stars are
Beta, Eta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon, the
Iast-that nearest Arcturus-heing known
also as Vindemiatrix, the Grape Gatherer.
Gamma is a double star. and is especially
interesting as one of the first double stars
of which the componentS We're found to
vove about each other forming true BIZ
rary system
Below and to the right of Spica is ira
pezium of four stars, the brightest of the
third magnitude, which constitutes the
Crow (Corvus). The figure is of about the
size of the rectangle in Leo. The lower
most and brightest of these stars bears the
Arabic name AL Chiba, which means the
tent" a name which would seem to be-
long properly to the constellation rather
than to any single star. The figure is, at
any rate more suggestive of a tent than of
a bird.
Crater, the bowl Of which is formed by a
Eeat semicircle of fourth magnitude stars,
open toward the east. The base of the cup
is marked by line Of three stars on the
right. This constellation and the preceding
are both brought out well with an opera
glass.
The Crow and the Cup stand on the back
of the Hydra, or Water Serpent, a constel-
lation remarkable chiefly for it's enormous
length. The head Of the Hydra is formed
by short curved line of three stars-a very
pretty object for the opera glass, which
shows quite little cluster here-midway
between Regulus and Procyon, and below
a straight line run from one to the other
star. The tip of the Hydra's tail is d.
rectly beneath Spica, midway between 1t
and the horizon. Cor Hydrae the bright
est star of the constellation Is now directly
below Regulus, about half way to the hsri-
zon. Although Of only the second magni-
tude, it Is conspicuous from it's lonely posi-
ton. It's Arabic name, Alphard, signifies
the Solitary One.
Very nearly overhead and now at its
greatest altitude, is the Great Dipper in the
Ursa Major. Arcturus will easily be reeog-
nized from it's position on a continual ton Of
the curve of the Dipper's handle Between
Arcturus and the bowl of the Dipper AMI
on the extension OF straight line drawn
from the Pole Star through Alioth-the in
nermost of the three stars which form the
Dipper's handles a star Of the third mag
nitude known as Cor Carroll, Charles Heart
so named in honor Of Charles of England.
1t is the principal star in the Hunting Dogs
Games VenaticD. 1t is q double star and is
a fine object for a small telescope. The
four stars. Cor Carroll, Arcturus, Spca
and Denebola, form a large lozeng e-shaped
figure known as the Diamond of Virgo.
The Planets.
With one exception the planets are now
evening stars and, more remarkable STILL
with this single exception they are all
above the horizon at pm. The exception
is Mercury. now in close proximity with the
sun. After the 4th of the month, when 1t
will be in superior conjunction with the
sun, Mercury also will be an evening star
1t will become visible in the west before the
close Of the month
Saturn was In opposition to the sun-that