Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-02

Between Leo and the Pole Star and near
iy overhead is the Ursa Major, or Great
Bear. The most conspicuous part of this
large and rather mystifying constellation
is the Great Dipper, which forms the Bears
hindquarters and his decidedly unbearlike
tall. The Bears two hind paws are mark
ed by two very noticeable pairs of fourth
magnitude stars, situated about midway
between the bowl of the Dipper and the
Sickle. His forepaws are together and are
marked by similar pair of stars midway
between the Pointers" in the bowl of the
Dipper, and the Twins, Castor and Pollux,
which will now be found in midheavens in
the west. The three pairs Of stars above
pointed out lie In line with one another,
and, taken two and two. are at about equal
distances apart. With these hints the Bear
should be located easily, and a lively i'm
agination may possibly discover here some
vague likeness to the animal whose name
the constellation has borne from time i'm
memorial-from time, apparently, before
the Bear lost his tail, in the way described
in German folklore.
Between Leo and the southeastern hort-
ION is Virgo, the Maiden, the sixth of the
zodiacal consultations. Virgo contains one
star OF the first magnitude, Spica, the
Wheat-Ear. AS constellation the Maiden
Is equally mystifying with the Great Bear
She now stands erect, her feet just above
the horizon, her head half way to the
zenith; but one looks here in vain for any
trace of the angelic. winged creature de-
picted on celestial chart. The most no.
ticeable part of the constellation is Y
shaped figure which springs from the star
Spica. as its base, the arms being formed
by five stars, four of the third and one Of
the fourth magnitude, the central one of
which is Gamma Virgins, noted last month
as beautiful double star.
Objects Of Beauty.
In the east Arcturus, the splendid Bear
Warden, may be seen at about one-third Of
the distance from the horizon to the zenith
Arcturus, Spica. Denebola (the second
magnitude star in the tail of Leo) and Cor
Carroll "a star of the third magnitude about
midway between Arcturus and the bowl of
the Dipper, the principal star in the Hunt
ing Dogs form together large lozenge-
shaped figure, known as the Diamond of
Virgo which, though a modern constella-
ton, like the Dipper and the Sickle, is one
Of the grand landmarks of the summer
evening sky.
West of Leo are the two dogs of Orion"
Procyon and Sirius. and just above the
western horizon reclines Orion himself,
with his two frst-magiitude stars, Betel-
geuse and Rigel.
A little north of west Taurus is setting,
it's brightest star, Aldebaran. being nearly
on the horizon. In the northeast, about
thirty degrees nigh. is Capella, in Auriga,
the rival of Arcturus in brilliancy.
Turning again to Leo, we note that the
region below this constellation, extending
from Virgo, on our left, to the two Dogs,
on our right, is remarkably poor in stars,
contrasting in this respect strikingly with
the western quadrant of the heavens The
brightest star in this extensive region is
one Of the second magnitude, situated some
twenty degrees southwest of Regulus. This
star conspicuous In it's loneliness, is Cor
Hydrae. the Hydra's Heart, known also as
Alphard. the Solitary one.
OF Enormous Length.
The greater part Of this starless region
Is occupied by the Hydra, or Water Snake,
whose heart has just been pointed out
a constellation remarkable chiefly for dts
enormous length of over one hundred de-
grees. 1t would seem as II the ancient
star-gazers. unable to make much out OF
the few faint, stars contained within this
region of the heavens. had Jumped them
into one vast constellation, which, how
ever. is not without some warrant since
snakes can be found anywhere among the
stars. The Hydra's head. formed by
short curved group OF three or four stars,
OF which the brightest-the eye-is Of the
third magnitude. Is about midway between
Regulus and Procyon. and Is very pretty
object for an opera glass. which reveals
quite rich sprfnkling of faint stars here.
The Hydra's tail touches the horizon In
the southeast.
Standing on the back OF the Hydra are
two small constellations-the Crater. or
Cup, and Corvus, the Crow-which, though
they contain between them but one star
which attains to the fun third magnitude,
are both very pretty asterfsms. particu-s
The Cup Ii the more westerly Of the two.
It's bowl 10 formed by semi-circle OF Ave
or six stars. Of which the brightest b Of
only the fourth TIN, masni.ude. : q. shor. line q
these forming the base. Although Q little
iop-sided, the cup thus formed II q very
pessabis celestial Eoblst.