The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-09
OF THE HEAVENSIN MAY.
fxTENT or 1HE yfsfBLE HORIZON
AND nov TO FIND m.
Description ofthe Beautiful Consultations
The Pianets-Antares the Bright Red
Star-Hcrculcs aud Lyra.


star-iIercules and Lyra.
In many a vague idea exists as 20 tho
meaning OF the word horizon. We viii
here speak only OF the visible horizon
which is the line where tho earth and
sky seem TO meet. this line on land IS
more or less broken and rugged. but on
a calm sea 70 Is a true circle The OK
panse OF this visible horizon depends
upon tho elevation Of the observer 5 eye
above the surface Of the sea. The follow
ing Is a very simple rule by which TO
find the distance OF the horizon: Take
the elevation OF tho observer eye eN-
pressed in feet increase it by its own
half and then take the square root Of
the sum and the result VIII DO the dis
tancc Of the horizon in miles. For in
stance. suppose the Observers eye 10 be
ut an elevation Of twCnty-fOur feet above
the water. then 10 this add twelve feet.
then the square root OF the sum Is six.
hence six miles is the distance of the
horizon.
or THE PLANETS.
OF the planets. Mars, Jupiter and Sa-
tum still adorn our evening skies. Nhlle
Venus has changed since last month from
evening to morning star. rising about an
hour before the King Of Day makes his
appearance in the East. but still too
near that great orb of light to attract
much attention. The ancients did not
recognize this morning and evening" star
as one ana the same. but regarded them
as two different stars and accordingly
gave them different names.
Looking skyward about o'clock dur
ing the evening OF this month We per-
r1f NJ q
consultations Of the heavens which were
visible last month. have now disappeared
I'm the distant West, while others no.
before visible have made their appear
ance in the Eastern heavens. Prominent
among the latter is Ophiuchus. This con-
stellation occupies a large area IN Tue
mid-heavens directly south OF Hercules.
Ras Aihague is the principal star IN
this constellation. To the south OF %
hiuchus we behold Scorpio, the scorpion
lust emerging above the Eastern horizon.
scorpio IS the eighth sign and ninth con-
stellatlon in the order of the Zodiac, and
il is one Of the most interesting clusters
OF stars TO be seen in the Southern hemi-
sphere.
AN IMPORTANT STAR.
In the infancy OF astronomy, the Au-
tuinnaI equinox took place when the sun
was In Scorpio. 1t can be distinguished
by the remarkable lusre and the posi-
ton of It's largest stars. Antares, situat-
ed in the heart of this constellation is
the brightest star.
Indeed. Antares is the most brilliant
star in ali tat reigns of the heavens. and
may be easily distinguished by its pecu-
liar red appearance. This IS an import
ant star to nayigators, for they use L
from which to reckon the moons dis
lance in computing Their Longitude D.
sea South and East OF Antares is sue
cession Of eight or nine bright stars.
which sweep round in a half circle, ter
minating in several small stars forming
the tail Of the Scorpion which extends
into the miiky-way. To the west Of Scor-
pio. We see Libra, the balance which con
tains but few large stars. II Is chiefly
noted as having been once the consteild-
ton which the sun entered at the time
OF the Autumnal equinox. At that time
the constellation Libra conceded with the
sign Libra. but in consequence OF the
procession Of the equinoXes, the sign Il
bra now corresponds with the constella-
ton Virgo So that the Autumnal equi-
nox now occurs when the sun is in th-
constellation Virgo
HERCULES AND LYRA.
North Of Ophiuchus IS Hercules, whose
principal star Ras Algethi may be dis
tnguished by means Of another bright
star of the same magnitude nVe degrees
east by southeast Of it, To the north
east of Hercules we see Lyra, which
contains the bright star Vega whose
color is a shining white.
The eastern part Of Lyra is situated on
the edge Of the miiAy-way. Just rising
east of Lyra is Cygnus, the Swan. one
OF the few consultations that shows some
resemblance 10 the animals whose names
they bear. This constellation is repre-
sent5u as n Swan flying down the milky
way towards the south Northwest Of
Hercules we see the circumpolar con-
stelation Draco. the Dragon, high up IN
the heavens. North of Draco Is Ursa
Minor the Little Bear, while TO the
southwest of Draco is Ursa Major, the
Great Bear which is just a little past
the Meridian with the bottom of the
Dipper towards US and the handle on
the right. On the opposite side of the
pole star from the Great Bear and the
Dragon we see the consultations Cep-
heus. CassiOpeia and Perseus, situated
I'm the midst Of the milky-way. While In
q southeastern direction from the Great
Bear is Bootes, the Bear Driver. repre-
scented by the figure of huntsman in
the act or pursuing the treat Bear dtounu
the pole o. the heavens.
THE BRIGHT STAR ARCTURCS.
The principal star in this constellation
is Arcturus-a reddish first magnitude
star situated in the knee Of the Bear
Driver. With the exception OF Sirius.
Arcturus is the brightest star to be seen
in our latitude.
South OF Bootes Is the Zodiscal con-
stellation Virgo which with its scattering
stars occupies a large region in the
heavens.
While to the west Of Virgo IS Leo.
the Lion, containing q large number Of
verv bright stars, the brightest one ~
which IS Regulus. situated i'm the breast
Of the Lion. To the north Of ReguluG
thele are five bright stars ARRANGED i'm
the form Of a sickle with Regulus as a
handle. To the south Of Leo ana Nugo
we see the Crater. Hydra. the Crow and
Centaurts. West of Leo Is Cancer slowly
vending its way toward the western
horizon. while Auriga Gemini, CAMS.
Minoa and Monoceros are either setting
or on the nOiut of 50 doing