Evening journal., 1899-08-04
SKIES IN AUGUST.
The Field Of Fast-hi,ting
Summer Metcors.
CONSULTATIONS AND PLANETS

The dug DAYS.
The myths Of remote ages endure
we'll. The ancient Thebans anxiously
noted the rising and setting Of Sirius,
most glorious Of all the starry host,
believing It to be associated with the
swelling of the Nile; while the Ro-
mans annually sacrificed to 1t a dog
to retain its favor and secure fertility
of flock and field Therefore, to that
season when Sirius rose with the sun
our far distant ancestors gave the des-
ignation of Dies canicularis. or dog
days" which is still in familiar use. 1t
was believed that the sultry heat Of
Summer was due to the malevolent in
fiuence Of the shining leader of CAMS
Major, and the legend is still suffi-
ciently potential to invest the seasonal
appellation with decided lack Of
euphony
But the period OF the dog days is
not invariable. The conjunction of
Sirius with the sun does not occur
at the same time in all latitudes, nor
is it long constant anywhere, because
Of the procession of the equinoxes, and,
consequently, calendars have varied in
their representations of the periodical
limit 1t is curious to read that more
than a millennium ago the beginning
was stated as July IA; in the time OF
Queen Elizabeth the Common Prayer
announced it as extending from July
6 to September 8 for nearly century
, from the Restoration, as from July IS
to August 2S, and after 1752-the adop-
. tion of new style-from July 80 to
September Z. Various calendars now
represent the period as commencing on
July g. and ending August II, while
others include the weeks between July
25 and September 5.
An interesting feature is that OF th'
astronomical terms employed relative
to the movement of the mighty SUI
blazing invisibly in the heavens in the
daytime When a star or planet hai
been in conjunction with the sun-and
Of course, invisible-and emerges from
the sunlight so as to be visible befor
sunrise, its rising is termed "heliacal.
But its heliacal setting occurs whei
it is too close to the sun to be visible
A star rises and sets "acronycally
when it appears upon the eastern no
rizon at sunset and sets at sunrise.
THE STAR GROUPS.
While one cannot
"-wallow naked in December snow
BY thinking on fantastic Summer
heat"
it IS at least possible to mitigate tn
sweltering temperature of the do
days by the cool breezes of a midsun
mer night spent beneath the quiet Al
gust stars. Restfully they CLEAN
their great heights, the celestial con
pany growing with the fading of ii
last reflection of the sunset until II
vast expanse Of heaven is flecked Wit
the faint millions of the Milky Wa
and studded here and there with gen
of sapphire. ruby and golden hue.
At 3 p. m. about the first of Il
month, Draco and Ursa Minor are see
above Polaris. Cepheus above and
the east. CassioDeia east, and Ur
Major west
In the northeast, Perseus is just ri
ing. while to the south Of it are Il
Great Square Of Pegasus and Andr
medals glittering line.
Along the ecliptic Aquarius su
mounts the eastern horizon, wi
Capricornus beyond. and Sagittari
on the meridian. Scorpio hanks t
latter on the west, with Libra ne,
and Virgo just skirting the horizon.
Looking north Of the ecliptic,
attractive stars Of Lyra are seen a
tie east OF the meridian. the queer
Vega smiling down from a point I
far from the zenith. To the east
Lyra are Cygnus, the Dolphin ('Jo
Conin"). and Aquila, while west of
meridian and above Scorpio are 8
pentcrius and Hercules. West of
latter are Corona Borealis and Boot
and Coma Berenices and Cor Car
tenant the northwest.
THE PLANETS.
On the evening Of the 7th the m'
and Mercury will be in very cl
conjunction, but indistinguishable
the suns rays. The planet will rel
its inferior conjunction with the
by the 18th, and remain invisible III
within a few days of its greatest w
ern elongation At midnight of
21st it will be in conjunction v
Venus. which is now very close to
sun, but still a morning star. The
ter, at present angularly small and
preaching rotundity in phase,
speeding toward superior conjunc