The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-20
A GLANCE AT THE STARS.


People who want rest from evening
talks on war may pleasantly turn their
attentions to the beauties of a January
sky. Clear nights are not frequent, but
when they come they are superb. Many
people have little time to study astronomy,
but a few minutes occasional observation
OF the stars viii awaken an interest which
can hardly fail to increase.
Jupiter Is now the reigning planet, and
IS on the retrograde path. on the 23d OF
this month Jupiter will be in opposition to
the sun. crossing the meridian at midnight,
and shining with it's greatest brilllancy
for this year. Its distance from us then
will be. in round numbers. 430. 600, go miles
about four and half times the distance
OF the sun. Close beside the planet Jupi-
ter-to the west OF tive may see with the
naked eye. If the night is clear. a little
fec< of nebulous light, which even an
opera glass will show TO be a star cluster.
This is PraPsepe. the Beehive. or. Us the
name is sometimes translated. the Manger.
1t is one Of the prettiest clusters IN the
heavens. even for an instrument OF only
Cancer. II lies between two stars 81 the
third magnitude-Gamma and Delta Cam
cri-which were formerly known popularity
as the AselIi. or Asses. names having an
obvious reference TO that OF the cluster.
Another cluster which TO the naked eye
very much resembles Praesepe. and which
is. perhaps. even more beautiful than that
All q -.
in the handle Of the sword OF Perseus. It
lies about midway between the central
bright star in Perseus and the constelIa-
ton Cassiopeia, and can easily be found
by sweeping this region with an opera
glass.
While surveying this cluster we are not
far from the famous nebuIa in Andromeda.
It's position. near the northernmost OF the
three stars which form the belt OF Andro-
media, is shown on the chart. TO the naked
eye this nebula appears as a blurred
star. which becomes stin more hazy when
looked at through an opera glass II Is
! pointed ont more because the reader NAV
/ like 10 know where II is than because he
/ IS likely 10 find Il very striking object
with any optical aid a. his command
| Among objects Of especial interest th's
month are the two variable stars. Algol. IN
! Perseus and Mira. the wonderful star.
/ i'm the constellation Cetus 'Minlma" Of
! Algol convenient for Observing viii occur
I al II p. m on the 31st. three opportunities
/ having already passed this month. The re-
/ cuiiarity OF this star is that after shining
/ Tor about two and half DAYS as 4 star OF
! the second magnitude Il descends IN the
! space ~ about four hours 70 the fourth
1 magnitude. ana IN the course OF the next
! four hours regains its usual briliiancv. Tia
! explanation IS that the star has A dark sat-
/ elite revolving round 81. which. passing
! periodically between us and 1t. cuts of a
/ portion OF It's light
! Mira has a period q about eleven month.
/ during seven or which Il IS Invisible to ira
naked eye. being when faintest OF between
+ I've ninth ana tenth mssnitudes. When
shining With SIS greatest hr5ulancy Il .occa-
+ sionany becomes the rival OF Menka-
/ which Is a star @: ths second magnitude
( bat more often It stops short CT this degree
I OF sylendor. LAST year Il attained 70 only
/ the fourth magnitude. ana Tire year Before
I 81 the third. IL should Re seen now about
/ or rather past maximum.
In the path az the moon. ana little
/ northwest Q; 80 brilliant AlaeNaraa ara
! the Tleia3es. WIN ths naked eye We can
Sc SIX Stars. Al opera glass VIII show az
/ least four times IS many. 4 .xo-ineh tel
/ ssccps Viii show about sixty; but even
{ this number IS only e small part q
! IRE number revealed here ~ a trst-class
/ telescope. or ~ The stlll more searching
I agency % photography. It IS known rat
w,thin region here which might - GOV.
/ cred ~ four fcll moons. ana forming a
I wovi3 system which is. apparently. rough
/ " gloa1ilar ln shape. there are upward of
7 = ~ stars. rors taan ore % watch. II TIE
/ estimate % re distance 81 tsis cluster Is
( fairy oovvec'. Is g.Aat iumlnar- -
! comparison With IRE sun. Two hundred
/ ara rfty light years Is TIE estimated
: distance ct ere Pie'aies-:sn times n.
I distance OF Sirius. oar sua :; hat dis
tancs would pale % a star of the tenth
| magnitude. Acyone the brightest Pletaae.
- u .As third magnitude, 49,, 4 tie above