Evening star., 1897-02-06
How the Planets May Be Observed
This Month.
ALGOL, TEE DEMON OF THE HEAVENS
Interesting Facts About the CeIes-
tial Equator.
PLANETS OF THE MONTH

Written for The Evening Star.
Seven stars of the first magnitude will be
above the horizon at 9o'cfock tomorrow W
night-Sirius. the brilliant Dog Star, nearly
south. Procyol, midway between the hori-
Zon and the zenith, in the southeast; Betel-
geuse, in the right shoulder, and Rigel in
the left foot Of Orion. now in mid heavens,
a little west of the meridian; Aldebaran, to
the right Of Orion. at two-thIrds of the dis
tance from the horizon to the zenith; Capel-
la, nearly overhead; Pollux, the lower of the
two twins. now well up toward the zenith,
little south of east: and, low in the east,
Regulus. easily identified from its position
In the handle of the Sickle. which forms
the bushy head of Leo.
Facing north, We may see the Great Dip
per in the Crsa Major standing on its
handle 10 the right OF the Pole Star, and
at about the same altitude to the left of
this star the W-shaped figure of Cas-
siopeia- the coils Of the Great Dragon are
directly beneath the Pole Star. the head of
this monster being on the horizon.
Partly below the horizon. between west
and northwest. is the great square of
Pegasus From the northern corner of this
square runs curved line of four second
magnitude stars, in the direction of Cap
ella The first three belong to Andromeda
the lowermost-that at the corner Of the
square-Alpharatz. being in her head, the
uppermost, Gamma, in her left foot The
middle star is Beta. in her belt To the
right of Beta. near the northernmost of
the three stars which form the belt, is the
great nebula. now in an excellent position
10 be scanned with an opera glass.
The uppermost of the four stars above
singled out Is Alpha PerSei, the brightest
star IN Perseus. at the center of the con-
stellatlon- To the left of line drawn from
this star TO Gamma Andromeda, forming
with these two stars nearly right -angled
triangle. Is Algol. the Demon (al GuhD, a
particularly interesting variable star.
Aigol is usually star of the second
AIgoI, the Diamond Star.
magnitude. as will be found to be the case
tomorrow night. Al intervals of about two
days and twenty-one hours it un3ergoes
remarkable charge of brilliancy falling in
the space of about four hours to the fourth
magnitude. and as quickly recovering its
usual splendor. The change is caused by
the circulation round it of a dark COM
panion or satellite. which passes between
US and II and cuts off a portion Of its light
A minimum OF AlSol will occur on the Sth
al pm From that hour until . o'clock
the star VIII be gradually Frightening. 9th
er ninirna at hours convenient for observ-
ing VIII occur this month on the 18th at 10
pm. and on the 18th. at : pm.
The zodiacal considerations now above the
horizon at pm. named in orGer from west
10 east, are Pisces. the Fishes. not marked
Dy any bright stars. Aries the Ram, mark
60 oy noticeable pair of stars of the
third magnitude. now at about one-third of
the distance from the horizon to the zenith
Taurus. the Bull. marked by the brieht
star Al1ebaran In the head of the constel-
lation and the Pleiades in the shoulder.
Genlni. the Twins. a pair of stars very
closely resembling the Pointers In the
Great Dtpper. and which form with Capella
ard the head of Orion a large nearly equal
sided triangle: Cancer. the Crab, unmarked
by any star of above the third magnitude:
ard Leo, the Lion. OF which the brightest
star is Reguius. already pointed out
On the planisphere may be seen two cury-
ed lines marked respectively Suns Path"
ara Celestial Equator" The beginner in
star gazing should early famIiarize himself
with these lines-arcs Of great circles
lhey would appear upon the face of The
SKY were they actually visible instead of be-
ing purely imaginary. The suns path-the
ecnptic Is a!so roughly speaking the
pain OF the moon and the planets and nm
less one is familiar with its location he ts
continually perpleX4d at finding these ceIes-
tlaI bodies wandering much more lawIessIy
apparently. than they have any right TO
wander The heavens are now well posed
these circles.
The Celestial EQUATOR
Face the south. and beginning at the ex-
act western point on the horizon sweep
with the finger line in the heavens. mass
ing close 10 the uppermost of the three
stars in the belt Of Orion, about five de-
grees below Procyon. and ending at the ex-
act eastern point on the horizon. You have
Ioi!owel the celestial equator. or "equinoc-
tlal. the Ene which separates the mort herp
from the southern hemisphere Of the heay-
CHS All stars north of this line are in the
northern hemisphere. all stars south of il
In the southern. Thus, the star Procyon
and the upper half of Oriois are in tba
hs2r SfrfRs-