The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-15
BEYOND THE CLOUDS.
NOVEMBER A MOST INTERESTING
MONTH FOR STAR GAZING.
With Its Celestial Ffreworks-The
Rs0anee ~ . Co.set DATING hack
% the Year 126-The Gonssel1a-
stons which Are Brightest This
A0nth.

November Is an interesting month for
star gazing. particularly IL ore can re-
anforre the naked eye with q good opera
glass or a field glass. AZ 10 O'Clock In the
early evenings Of the month and O'Clock
AZ its close some OF tire finest ccnstslla-
tons are above the horizon. while over Us
and about US Is host OF Smaller objects.
interesting 10 study even with unassisted
vision Facing the north. at the hour tn
cicafed, we may see the Great D.pper.
or as our English friends prefer 20 call u.
the Piow. barely above the horizon. direct
~ beneath the POLE star.
Above the pole and nearly overhead II
Cassiopes8. THE Lady ia Her Chair
constellation easy TO recognize from the
confxurasion of it's five brighter stars.
which give one the idea OF the chair part
of the figure On our right. midway be-
tween the horizon and the zenith. Is Ca
pelia. or the Kid. star of the first mag
nitude In the constellation Auriga. and on
our left. nearer the horizon. Is Vega, in
the Tyre. also q star Of the first magni-
tude
A. We face the east. bringing Capelia on
our left. we have directly in front OF us
the Piesades. about half way zap from the
horizon and below this cluster and slight
ly to the right Is Aidebaran. 1.-The Bulls
Eye" the principal star in the group
called Taurus. Orion IL now rising la the
exact east. with Its three brilliants form
ing the belt" almost perpendicular TO the
horizon.
Toward the south the lone star Fomal-
baus in the Southern FISH. Is the only
conspicuous object. while low In the west
Affair In the Eagle and TO the right of
this star. and at higher elevation. Is the
splendid constellation cygnus the Swan.
sometimes called the Northern Cross.
Tho great square of Pegasus IL nearly
overhead,
November has a feature that no other
month can equal. for the earth during its
passage. piunges through the November
meteor zone. whose perihelion rests upon
the portion OF her orbit that she passes
about the 18th of the month. This zone Is
an immense eiiipse. containing an innn-
merabie number OF meteors. clustering
around or following in the track OF the
comet Ut some thirty years ago. now I'M
dergoing a process of disintegration. of
which the meteors seem to be the result.
The meteors make a revolution in about
thirty-three years. The earth In ordinary
years does not encounter the great shoal
or swarm. bnt she passes I'm the period
above mentioned through the midst of IL.
and there is a superb display of celestial
Fireworks The meteors are spreading far
and wide through the zone or ring. and in
the distant future will fill every portion
OF it, when there viii be larger showers
every year. and tho grand display viii
cease.
The November meteors have a history
that may be called the Romance OF a
Comet In the year les OF the Christian
era q stray comet made a visit 10 the suns
domain, coming from the infinite depths of
space and intending 70 return 10 them It
chanced To come too near 20 Uranus. when
the giant planet made IL a prisoner by
force OF attraction. changed its orbit into
an ekiipse. and II has ever since continued
TO wander within the limits of the solar
system and give grand exhibition 10 ter
restias observers about three times in a
century.
The last exhibition took place In lssS 81
and the next Is expected three years
hence. The iong-looked- shower will
then appear when the heavens will be on
hre. and shooting stars will fall 10 the
earth by millions, These tiny meteors are
called Leonids. because their radiant point
r. in the constellation Leo.
II is well To look for them about Novem-
her 10. for tho earth captures every year
q few strneglers along the path. They are
easily known for they move swiftly. have
greentsh or blush tint with vivid and
persistent trains. A few may. perhaps be
picked UP In the darkened sky in the even
Ing when the moon happens 10 be eciipsed.
The sun Is almost half way 10 It's far
southern limit. the winter soistice and
moves seven degrees In declnation TIC the
southwark In the course of the month it's
velocity sensihly siackening toward the