Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-08

where the Andromeda handle of tho
Great Square of Pegasus bends in u
southeast direction, We see three small
stars, forming little right triangle,
the principal CONFORMATION of the con-
stellation called Triangulum, or the
Triangle. which would scarcely be
worth mentioning we're it not for the
fact of its being one of Ptolemy's
ancient famous As consultations. South
of it three stars will be noticed that are
lation Aries. They form very obtuse
of which is Alpha, OF Hamal. Tho
middle star is Beta, or Sheratan, and
the third Gamma, the first binary
double star ever discovered, having
been noticed us such as early as 1864.
Cetus, or the Whale, sometimes also
called the Sea Monster, is a very ex-
tensive constellation, although it con
tains only one star that may fairly be
called bright. The head is marked by
an irregular pentagon, situated south
of Alpha Arietis. Alpha, OF Menkar,
is the principal star in the pentagon,
but it is not quite as bright as Beta,
or Deneb Ceti, whic,. marks the tail
of the monster, and is the brightest
member in the whole constellation.
The most remarkable feature of this
constellation consists, however, in the
fact of its containing one of the most
singular of the variable stars. 1t lies
at not great distance northwest from
Alpha Ceti, and is called Mira, or the
Wonderful. Its variability was dis
covered as early rs 1896. Most of the
time it is invisible to the naked eye,
being then a ninth magnitude star,
but once in little less than a year il
appears as a fourth magnitude star, and
even sometimes attaining to the bright
ness of a second magnitude star. II
then changes back to its original
faintness, the rise and fall occupying
a space of about 100 days. Mira, there.
fore, belongs to that class of variable
stars that have a certain fixed period
in their changes, differing from those
in which no such pcriodicity is notice.
able. Extending the Andrometla handle
of the Great Square Of Pegasus in a
straight line, the bright second mag
nitude star Alpha will be noticed,
which is the most conspicuous in the
constellation Perseus.
1t is also called Algenib, and must
not be COMPOUNDED with Gamma Pegasi
in the Square, which bears the same
name. The reason for two different
stars bearing the same proper name is
not apparent. With Delta on one side
of Alpha, and Gamma and Eta on the
other, we see a CONFORMATION which
sometimes, and not inappropriately, is
called 1.-THE Segment of Perseus' form.
ing curve which is concave toward
the northeast and runs along the
Milky Way toward Cassiopela. Due
south of Alpha is seen what may be
regarded as one of the most remarkable
fixed stars in the heavens. This il
Beta Persei, or Algol, which, with
some small stars near it, forms the
"Head of Medusa. The classical
scholar will recollect the story of Per.
seus and the petrifying head Of
Medura. Algol is most of the time Of
the second magnitude, but changes
from the second magnitude to the
fourth in the brief time of about three
and one-half hours, and back again in
the same time, after which it remain.
so for 233 days, when the same changes
recur. The period of changes is known
with great precision, being 3 days q
hours 4S minutes 55.4 seconds. As IL
the causes of the singular changes Of
the class of variable stars, Of which
Algol forms the tpye, opinions are still
| divided and no certain conclusion
arrived at, though some appear
/ plausible.
Auriga with Capella, Orion with it.
belt and sword and the two fine frs
magnitude stars Betelgeuse and Rigel
and Taurus with the Hyades ant
Pleiades and bright Aldebaran ar,
high up in the eastern skies ant
present marvellous panorama o
stellar worlds. Pegasus, with its grea
square, and Andromeda, though bend
ing towards the western horizon, ar,
in full view, while the fine northern
cross, Cygnus, is approaching tn,
horizon, though, like Aquila will
Affair, still sufficiently high up to b,
plainly seen. In the southwest thu
fine first magnitude star Fomalhaut il
Piscis Australis is also yet plainl
visible. and the most magnificent 0
all fixed stars, Sirius, is rising up il
the east.
To see at the same time so many o
the first magnitude stars, thos
gigantic solar worlds, that send thei
glorious light from the unfathomabl
depths Of the sidereal universe, canno
fail to fill the soul Of the behplde
with awe and admiration, and al tn
same TIME with profound reverence 70
the Divine Creator of them all.