The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-09-09


that is gracefully poised within three
fiery rings and encircled by eigh,
stately satellites? Viewed with tele-
scope this unique Sa,urnian system
presents panorama the skillful pen
is unable to describe in ADEQUATE
language.
When Calico, the first that ever
observed with magnlfying lenses, saw
two of the rings, that are brighter than
the third, he was completely puzzled,
and so were all the astronomers for
many years af,erward. In fact, he did
not see these rings as rings, but sup
posed the planet to be triple. The
enigma deepened when some time
ai,er~ard The rings disappeared. l,
was not before fifty years had elapsed
since the first discovery of those
strange and until then inexplica BILE
appendases Of Saturn that the Dutch
astronomer, Huyghens, explained the
true structure of those rings, and not
before the comparatively recent year,
1850, that the third ring was dlscov-
cred by Prof. w. {. Bond, Of Harvard
College, in the United States, though
two weeks later the English as,rono-
, mer, Dawes, who had not heard of
Bonds discovery, discovered i, also.
Saturn compels eight moons to
revolve about it. These, ascending in
order of the distance from their pri-
mary, are called Mmas, Encladus,
Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion
and Japetus, of which, as the name
seems to indicate, Titan is the largest,
whilst Mimas is the smallest.
The consultations Delphinns, Cyg-
nus and Capricornus will be on or
very close to the meridian in the
September evenings. Delphinus, or
the Dolphin, is not large constella-
ton, but an ancient one, and one that
is distinguished by its beautiful da
mond shaped figure. 1t is also known
by the name of Jobs Coffin, though
the origin of this singular appellatIon
is utterly unknown. The four stars
forming the diamond bear the names
of Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, Of
which the third is double. Delphinus
lies about 80 northeast of Aqulla.
Due east of Lyra and situated in
the Milky Way, large constellation,
strikingly resembling cross, presents
itself to the eye. This is Cygnus, or
the Swan. The top of the cross is
marked by the bright first magnitude
star Alpha or Deneb, and its lowest
point by Beta or Albireo, fine double
| star, the two Componen,s being blue
and orange. The star in the middle
is Gamma, and the ends of the cross
piece are marked by Delta and Epsi-
lon, Of which the former is also double.
This constellation contains star
which, though invisible To the naked
eye, is distinguished by being the first
star the annual parallel of which was
determined. This is 81 Cygni. 1t S
double star and next to Alpha
Centauri the nearest fixed star to the
earth.
Capricornus is the eleventh of the
twelve consultations of the zodiac
and is situated due south Of Delphinus.
Its configuration is peculiar, and on
this account the constellation is easily
recognized, though none of its con-
stltuent Stars is bright. 1t forms a
large nearly right triangle, Of which
each vortex consists of pair of stars,
from p 10 g apart. The M r,hern
most star is double to the naked eye,
both of these close stars bearing the
name Alpha or Gledi, while the star
nearest to it is Beta or Dabin.
Scorplo and Hercules are hurrying
toward the western horizon, and the
beautiful star Arc,urus is closely ap-
preaching it. Aqulla with the frs,
magnitude star Affair is high up, and
the great Square Of Pegasus is rising
up in the east. In the latter hours of
the evening the Pleiades and the con-
s,ellation Taurus may be seen above
the eastern horizon heraldng the
arrival of the autumn season.