Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-02

which the earth's axis is directed. 1t is
pivotal point, and as the earth turns In one
direction We upon its surface looking to-
ward this point in the heavens, see the
stars near it apparently moving around 1t
in the contrary direction, though actually
tney are motionless. 1t will be seen that
the circle referred to touches the northern
horizon. 1t includes within 1t all of those
stars winch, in our latitude because of
their nearness to the pole never set but
simply circle round and round the Pole
star, and are always somewhere above the
horizon.
iowermost. and note the stars and constel-
iatlons which lie within this circle You
see them as you might see them in the ac-
tual heavens at O'Clock tonight Now
rotate the chart slowly. in a direction CON
uary 10 that in which a clocks hands
move, Keeping your eyes fixed en- this cir
Gle and bearing in mind that at its lowest
point II always touches the northern hori-
zon. and you may see these stars swing
ing around the Pole Star as you might see
them moving. apparently, in the actual
heavens. n you will perform this expert
ment, watching the Dipper in particular
you need never again be mystified at find
lEs IL in any dir ction from the Pole Star
Note that its pointers always point
faithfully to that star, no matter in what
direction from it the Dipper may be seen
On three evenings of this month the vari-
able star Algol will go through its changes
al hours cor venient for observation. On
o CLOCK, and will reach its minimum an
hour after midnight. The next minimum
VIII occur on the 10th at 10 O'Clock, an hour
still more favorable since the stars re-
covery of light as well as its decline can be
observed. the next will occur on the 23d
at p m When the star first becomes Wis
ible on that evening it will be noticeably
less brilliant than ordinarily; but by 10
o'clock 1t will have recovered its fun light
The popularity. of this star was noted last
month. The range of its variation is from
the second to the fourth magnitude.
Mira, the Wonderful.
Another very interesting variable which
is now in good position for observing is
Mira, the famous "wonderful' star in the
Whale. Mira has period of about elev-
en- months. When at its minimum it is of
about the ninth magnitude. and is, there
fore, away below the limit of naked-eye
visibility. Having remained in this condi-
ticn Tor some weeks, it begins slowly to
brighten, and IN about two months Ii be-
&C mes visible to the naked eye. Continuing
TO brighten, by the erd of another two
months it reaches its maximum of bril-
iiancy, which may be anywhere from the
fourth to the second magnitude. For
couple of weeks it hovers about this point,
sometimes Frightening up little and some
times paling, and then begins steadily to
decline in brightness, and in about three
months it is again beyond the reach OF the
naked eye.
The last maximum of Mira occurred In
the early part of last January. The next
is due in the coming December The star
is now visible through an opera glass, and
before the close of the month it should ap-
pear to the naked eye.
To find Mira, look first for Menkar, with
the aid of the planisphere. This star, the
'-snout" OF the Whale, forms with the
P'eiades and the pair of stars in the Rams
horns large equilateral triangle. 1t is of
the second magnitude. At the right of
Menkar are two stars-Gamma, of the
third magnitude and below this, Delta, of
the fourth magnitude. Delta is directly in
line with Menkar and Mira and about mid
way between them. Mira is a decidedly
red star, and this peculiar feature will aid
in identifying it. At its last maximum ii
was little less brilliant than Gamma Ceti.
The cause of it's variability is unknown.
AS it brightens bright lines appear in its
spectrum, indicating that its increase of
splendor is due to glowing gases, one of
which is the universally present hydrogen.
October Meteors.
About the 18th of the month we may look
for the Orionids, the meteors, so called be-
cause their radiant" is in the constella-
ton Orion. This group of meteors often
gives us a very fine display of this sort of
celestial pyrotechnics. and they will repay
watching for. The display is always the
finest after midnight. Orion will rise on
that date at about 10 o'clock. Meteors be-
longing to this group, in whatever part of
the heavens they may be seen, will move in
tracks which, prolonged backward, will
pass through or near point just above the
right shoulder Of the constellation.
The Planets.
Mercury is now visible as morning star.
1t will be at its greatest elongation west
Is degrees 2 minutes-on the 9TH of the
month. Look for 1t in the exact east
Venus is also morning star, rising about
two hours before the sun. She is waning
in brightness and is less than half as bril-
hant as she was in June last.
Mars is an evening star, but is too near
the-sun to be visible.
Jupiter is morning star, visible at day-
break in the east. On the 5th it will be In
conjunction with Mercury, only twelve
minutes south of that planet-less than
one-third Of the apparent diameter of the
moon-and on the 18th 1t will be in con-
junction with Venus. twenty-eight minutes
south of her. On both of these occasions
the two planets. in conjunction, will be so
near each other that they can be seen to-
gether through telescope presenting very
interesting spectacles.
Saturn and Uranus are both evening stars
In close proximity to each other near the
western boundary of Scorpio. Both set be-
fore pm. Neptune, near the tip of the
southern horn Of Taurus, now rises shortly
before 10 pm.