Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-04

constellation. When We have found Il to-
night. by the me; ms above pointed out we
shal see that il is long way to the west
OF Aries-fully thirty degrees. The change
has been brought about by ''precesslon''-
a slow movement of both equinoxes toward
The west. as c, rs equence Of the earth's
Wahpling molten as il turns on its axis-
which carries each equinox entirely around
the heavens in ;tlt ut 26tpD wears
The space between Aries and the vernal
eql.inok is occupied 10y the constella ton
Pisces. the Fishes. There are no bright
stars here, and the onstellatiDn is an eN-
ceedlngly shadowy Cpe-hsrdly worth look
ing for. There are two Fishes. a Northern
and Western Fish. The first IS directly
scGih OF Androiheda; the second is be-
meath the Square If Pegasus. They are
united by pair of hands. said to he trace
able by lines of faint stars. and which are
knotted together at the star Alpha Pis-
cum a star OF the third magnitude. the
brightest in The constellation. Tn. constel-
lation Is figured On the planisphere for the
benefit of those who may care to search
for ii. This is the constellation which the
sun now enters on passing ihe vernal -uui-
nox, though IL is still said to enter at that
tune the sign" Aries.
AiSoI. the Demon.
One of the most interesting of the celes-
tial objects now in a position favorable
for observation is the variable star Algol-
al Guhl the demon. Ordinarily this star
is of the second magnitude. but II under
goes periodically a remarkable change Of
hrilliancy, falling in the space of about
four hours 10 the fourth magnitude and
as quickly recovering its usual splendor.
Its period, that is. the interval of time he
tween one minimum and the next succeed
ing. is two days. twenty hours. forty-niae
minutes. The sta will now he found at
y o'clock low in the northeast. IL may
easily be identified from its position with
reference 10 Gamma Andromeiae and the
second magnitude star in the center of Per-
seus, with which two stars II forms a near
ly riGht-angled triangle. The explanation
of the stars singular behavior is that 1t
Is attended by a dark satellite which
periodically eclpses il by passing between
us and II. thus cutting off a portion of its
light A minimum of Algol convenient for
observing viii occur on the seventh of this
month at Pm. AT that time the star will
be TOO low to be seen well; but as soon as
it can be fairly observed il will be seen to
be considerably less brilliant than usual.
magnitude. more favorable minimum
will occur on the nth, at IL pm
The Planets.
Mercury will he an evening star until
the 22d. After that date it will be a morn
ing star, though not visible as such during
the month.
Venus is brilliant morning star, two
hours and half west Of the sun.
Mars is an evening star. an hour and
half east Of the sun, in the constellation
Virgo. 1t sets before o'clock
Jupiter Is an evening star. in Leo, half
an hour east OF the sEIl-toO near IL TO be
visible. Its conjunction with the sun will
occur on the 18th.
Saturn is an evening star. in Libra,
twelve degrees west of Antares. Near il
and almost exactly south of it is Uranus
with which II was in coniu1ction on the
10Th OF last month. the interval between
the two being one degree forty-eight min
utes-rather more than three diameters of
the moon. Look for il with an opera glass
Neptune, 10 complete The list. is in
Taurus, morning star, rising soon after
midnight.
On the 22d. at pm. Washington mean
time, the sun Will "cross the line" entering
the sign Libra, and summer will be at an
end.