Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-05

NEST nptaple of the constellations|nter-
esting, both classically and automatically.
We shall find them, too. nearly all In their
best positions for observing right-side-up
ar d OF in the topsy-turvy attitudes which
they sometimes assume.
Directly in front of US may be seen the
old hero. Perseus. standing erect with one
foot below the horizon, brandishing IN his
right hand-as he is represented on the
chart-an inv isible sword. and holding In
his left by Its snaky locks the terrible Cor
CONS head; above Perseus and in mid
heavens in the northeast is Cassiopeia, bet
ter known nowadays as the Lady In her
Chair. or simply the Chair: to the right of
Cassie peia reclines her daughter. andre
media. bound to an imaginary rock,
dainty Offering to the ferocious sea mon
ster, who, however, will be defrauded OF
his xrected repast by Perseus and will be
changed into a rock by means OF the Me-
dusa head; above and to the left of Cas-
siopeia, and nearly over the Pole star.
sands Cepheus, the husband OF CaSsiopeia.
CT small account as king and OF hardly
more account as a constellation: to the
left CT Cepheus. in midheavens in the
northeast Is the Dragon, the general shape
Of whose many coiled body Is that OF a
reversed letter S. below the Dragon. be-
tween west and northwest. is the we'll
known Great Dipper. In the Ursa Major.
or Great Bear; midway between the Great
Dipper and Cepheus Is the Little Dipper.
known aLciently as the Crsa Minor or Lit
tie Bear; directly overhead Is the Swan. or
Northern Cross.
The region We have just gone over Is
abundantly supplied with objects suited to
an opera glass or small telescope We
will examine a few Of them. We Will
begin with an opera glass study Of Per-
seus. This constellation contains two
stars of the second magnitude. Alpha Per-
sci. at the center of the constellation. and
Beta. better known as Algol. which marks
the Medusa head and is rem arkably va
riable star. The star Alpha Is at the CEN
ter Of an elongated group Of six or eight
stars visible to the naked eye. Our opera
glass will raise the number to about thirty,
the group still retaining its elongated
shape. forming the body Of the consteila-
ton. and very pretty group 1t is
Some Faint Stars.
Now raise the glass to q point about
midway between Alpha Persei and tho oen
ter Of Cassiopeia- A group Of six or eight
faint stars will be seen, all embraced with
in the field of the glass; and in the midst
Of them q large spot OF a decidedly nebu-
lous appearance. This is the famous star
cluster in the handle Of the sword Of Per-
SOS. The cluster Is double, there being in
1t two points about which the stars are
particularly concentrated. It Is next to
the Pleiades. the most splendid star cluster
in the heavens. 1t is an EXCEEDING pref
scope. although to see 1t in ITS full glory
requires a six-inch instrument at the least.
Cassiopeia, in view of her splendor as
constellation. will be a little disappointing
when scanned with an opera glass; still
there are several very pretty areas in this
constellation. One of these is the head.
which will be found to be quite thickly be-
gemmed with tiny stars. The richest part of
the constellation lies between the stars
Alpha aid Gamma-the second and third OF
the Ave which form the wv" reckonsd
downward. as the constellation is now
posed. At about one-third Of the distance
from Alpha to Gamma is the star Eta. Of
the third magnitude. a double star easily
separated with q small telescope The
companion star is Of dull purple color.
a "naked-eye double" star. which the opera
glass brings out very prettily. The glass
shows, too. that Gamma lies in a little
very closely the Northern Crown. It may
be added that this star Gamma has a rep
utation among astronomers as one Of the
few stars whose spectra contain bright
lines, which indicate that their light comes
partly from glowing gases-that the stars
are partially nebulous.
A Brilliant Field.
Now raise the opera glass to the head Of
Cepheus, and you will begin to "see stars"
indeed. A region six or eight degrees
across-a little larger than the field" Of
the glass-directiy below the pair Of third
magnitude stars which mark the head of
Cepheus. is most profusely besprinkled with
stars Just below the limit Of naked eye
vision, but which sparkle like diamond
dust in the field Of an opera glass. You ars
now fairly in the Milky Way, and If you
have never enjoyed the privilege of survey
ing the Milky Way through a telescope
this little vision through an opera glass
will give you some idea of a pleasure that
you have still in store. Move the glass still
upward toward the Swan. You are still
travelling in the Milky Way, and when you
arrive in the neighborhood of the star De-
neb Cygni--the bright star in the tail of
the Swan, or the head of the Cross-you
will reach a field of which the extraordi-
nary richness will certainly call forth an
exclamation Of admiration, If you are view
ing such a spectacle for the first time
You will wonder that you have never
thought Of using an opera glass upon the
stars before. Sweep with the glass the
whole constellation of the Swan. Travel
farther; turn toward the south and follow
the Milky Way down through the Eagle,
through the tail Of the Serpent until If