The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-13
THE STARS In MARCH.

BY o'clock in the evening the con-
stellation Leo is well above the eastern
horizon. It's western outline comes to the
meridian at 9 o'clock on Friday next.
Leo is the sixth constellation in the Zodiac,
but in number and brilliancy of its stars
second only to Taurus. 1t represents the
fierce lion slain by Hercules in the forests
of Nemaea and placed among the stars by
Jupiter in commemoration of the dreadful
conflict Leo's principal star is of the first
magnitude, situated in the heart of the lion.
1t is called Regulus from the illustrious
consul of that name, who was among the
Romans the grand example of heroic en-
durance under misfortune. Regulus is in
the ecliptic, and is easily distinguished on
account of it's brilliancy. The two stars
in the dipper called the pointers-because
they point out the polar star at the north
point to Regulus at the south.
Leo contains the we'll known asterism of
the Sickle, consisting Of six stars that form
the outline Of that ancient reaping imple-
ment Regulus is in the end of the handle,
and is the brightest and most southerly of
the group. The November meteors called
Leonids radiate from the Sickle. Every
November thousands of meteors dart from
that part of the heavens and trail their
light across the sky. Three times in a CEN
fury there is a grand display of Leonids,
when the whole heavens are filled with
shooting stars. In November of next year
this grand periodic meteoric downfall will
occur. We may also look for an unusual
display this year. The exact radiant
point of the November meteors is near
Zeta, the second star in the blade Of the
Sickle.
East of Leo is Virgo, the seventh zodiacal
constellation, containing ITO visible stars. 1t
represents the Virgin Astraea, the goddess
of justice, who lived earth during the
golden age. The splendid star Spica Vir-
ginus is the most brilliant in the constella-
ton. 1t now rises at half-past o'clock,
and is easily recognized on account of its
solitary splendor, there being no visible
stars near except small star one degree
below it. What is known as the Diamond
of Virgo is formed by Spica at the south,
Denobola on the west, Cor Carroll on the
north and Arcturus on the east. Virgo now
carries in her left arm the great planet
Jupiter. which is readily distinguished from
the fixed stars by its peculiar luster and
magnitude. Jupiter rises at o'clock, is
west of Gamma, and is moving toward Eta.
1t is easy to trace his course among the
stars, since he moves through one constel-
lation each year. This year he is in Virgo,
rext year he will be in Libra and in 1900
he will be in Scorpio. Jupiter is more than
a thousand times as large as the earth.
-Four moons revolye around him. which may
be seen with common spy glass when the
nights are clear. BY watching them few
evenings they will change their places and
occupy different positions. Astronomers
are making a careful study of the physical
conditions of Jupiter, and are said to be on
the verge of great discovery The Jovian
atmosphere is found to be peculiar and of
great depth, far deeper than that of the
earth, and in some respects resembling that
of the sun. This deep atmosphere of Jupi-
ter is now supposed to be due to the in
tense inherent heat of the planet, and the
result of careful investigation leads to the
conclusion that its surface is in state of
incandescence, shining partly by its own
luster This conclusion is confrmatory OF
the Lebular hypothesis of La Place. that
the solar system originated in the eonden-
sation Of nebulous matter rotating around
center toward which it gradually contract
ed. great heat being evolved; that by CEN
trifugal action rings were formed, which by
disruption reformed into the planetary
masses in liquid and gaseous state. The
earth being smaller than Jupiter has cooled
10 udrhHSsS, WuAiS Jupiter, ny reason OF It's
enormous mass. has not radiated sufficient
heat to lose incandescence; therefore, its
surface is stin of the temperature and the
color of red hot iron.
At o'clock on the morning of the 10th
the sun enters the first point OF Aries,
which marks the vernal equinox. This viii
be the beginning of the astronomical spring.
JOHN c. DEAN.
Indianapolis, March H.
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