The evening times., 1896-11-30
ssCoNs ULTATIoN FREE. -Fa

| planet. Since, however, no such planet has
ever been visible spot on the sun 's disk,
thought the most careful observations We're
made by men or great ability with the most
| powerful Instruments, the discovery or Vui-
can proved apocryphal, and the existence
OF such planet an Illusion. Still, II is
not alone possible. but even highly probable,
that humber of diminutive planetary
bodies do exist bet ween Mercury andthe sun,
and IL can hardly admit of doubt that in
course or time, and with the aid OF the ever
improving magrifying power OF telescopes,
such bodies VIII yet De discovered, though
they must needs be of very small dimensions.
Marvellous as are the scientific dscov-
cries OF the fast waning century, the end of
new and perhaps more wonderful ones has
not yet come, and as long as there ensues NJ
retrograde movement IN the intellectual
development of man, the end will never
come until the earth ceases TO be an in
habitable body for Intelligent beings.
EARLY EVENING CONSULTATIONS.
In the earlier hours of the December
evenings we sec the constellation Aries,
Perseus and Cefus, in the meridian. The
Zodiacal constellation Aries, or the Ram,
is below Andromeda and distinguished by
two bright second-magnitudes stars, Alpha
and Beta Arietis. North Of il ana at a small
distance three stars OF the third and fourth
magnitude form the small constellation Tri-
VI W. ps hS i~hShSh
name, the Triangle. II is really quite in
significant, but as IL belongs to Ptolemy's
famous forty-elght ancient consultations IL
is stlli considered worthy Of mention.
The space between Taurus and the South
ern Fisl: IL filled up by the rather extensive
constellation C.tus, or the Whale. The head
of the monster is right below Aries and
marked by quite a conspicuous triangle,
while the body may be easily distinguished
10y five stars constituting figure not un-
like a sickle. The star at the yertcx OF
the obtusc angle OF the triangle in the head
Is called Alpha Ceti, or Menkar, while
Beta, or Bcneb Cetf occupies an isolated
position in tie tail. 1Bcyween the head and
the sickle in this constellation is the star
Oniicron ecu, also called Mira, or the Won
derful Star.
1t is the first OF the periodically yaria-
bic stars ever known. In brightness 4
ranges from tine ninth to the fourth Eiig-
nitude, and even sometimes the second all
these changes taking place within about
one hundred days. II was first noticed
in 556 as variable star, and its singular
and rapid changes have more OF less puZ
zled the astronomers.
PERSEUS AND ANDRoMEDA.
Looking overhead toward the northeast
We see the fine constellation Perseus, be-
ing in a certain manner connected with
Andromedl, the square and constellation
OF Pegasus. both OF which are bending to-
ward the southwest.
High up, though not yst IN the meridian,
is the large and beautiful constellation
Taurus, with the Hyades and Pleades. in
the former of which shines Allcbaran, the
Bull s-Eye, with the briliiaDcy OF a first
magnitude star. Aldebaran pertains to a
certain class OF stars which are called
nautical stars. Like most of the stars
that bear proper name, the word Aide
baran is OF Arabic ori gin, and means Led
the way an aiiusion To a certain period
i'll the history of astronomy when Aldebaran
led the stars from the vernal equinox.
To the north of il Auriga, the Charioteer,
with Capella, forms a worthy neighbor of
Taurus, and east Of these two the most
magni ficent constellation in the whole
hea yens, Orion, is rising higher and
higher. Also, Gemini, or. the Twins, is
plainly visible, and all of these form star
picture o. Understandable eandinspiringb beauty,
though IN their ensemble seen at greater ad-
vantage in the coming months. Lyra, with
Aega and Cygnus, are setting, while Aquila,
Capricornus and Hercules have set, re-
ElindBG us that the season of winter has
arrived.