Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-01

The Little Dipper.

OpSSi hsitoiy
The Little Dipper.
Directly across the Pole Star from the
powl of the Dipper and about equally dis
tant from it. is the constellation Cassiopeia,
row too low, however. to be seen well.
NooVe the Pole Star is the Little Bear Orsa
MINOR, better known to modern star-eazers
as the Little Dipper. The Pole Star marks
the end of the handle of the Dipper the tin
of the Bears remarkably long tail. II was
py the Little Bear, rather than by any sim
gle star, that the ancient Phoenician and
Greek sailors directed their course at night
An Ola Greek name for the constellation
was Cynosura. a name from which we get
our word cynosure. applied TO an object
which draws all eyes, as anciently did this
group OF stars The name means Dogs
lalL and suggests that the constellation
was sometimes regarded as a dog rather
man bear. stress being laid on the great
length OF Its caudal appendage. The pair
OF stars which form the outer side of the
Dowl OF this dipper. and which, like the
Pole Star, are of the second magnitude are
known as the Guardians of the Pole
Above and partly encircling the Little
Bear Is Draco, the Dragon. The eyes of
the Dragon, Beta and Gamma Draconis a
pair of second magnitude stars which close
~ resembles the pair formed by the Guar
dams lie between these stars and Vega, the
brilliant star now seen well up toward the
zenith, as we face the east. Vega is the
principal star in the Tyre. Below the Tyre
Is the swan or Northern Cross.
Above the Horizon.
Other consultations which are now above
the horizon at O'Clock are: The Eagle
in the east. containing the bright star Al
tair; the Dolphin. better known as Jobs
Coffin. pretty little group of six or eight
small stars. now to be seen below and at
the left of Affair; Ophiuchus, Sagittarius
and Scorpio, which together occupy nearly
har rlo.N1, So
the heavens; Virgo. i'm the southwest. at
about the center OF which is the bright star
Sp.ca, the Nheat-Ear; Leo. just above the
horizon in the west: Bootes, of which the
principal star is ArCturus; Hercules and
the Northern Crown, all nearly overhead
Directly south of the Northern Crown and
ten degrees distant from il is a small tri-
angle of stars two of the third and one OF
the fourth magnitude. which forms the head
OF the wriggling Serpent. which IL Is the
duty of Ophiuchus to hold Midway be-
tween Arcturus and the hindmost paw of
the Great Bear is the rich sDrinkling Of
small stars known Coma Berenices or
Berenice's Hair-a sparkling opera-glass
field.
The Planets.
Mercury has been an evening star since
June II. and Will continue to be such until
August Is. 1t should be visible this even
ing, if the sky is clear. near the horizon.
Begin the search for 1T - with an opera
glass. if convenient-fifteen OF twenty min
utes after sunset. scanning the sky closely
a little north of west and 10 or l. degrees
above the horizon. 1t will continue to be
visible until near the close Of he month.
Venus is a morning star, and will remain
such until September Il. 1t may be seen
for an hour or more before sunrise. very
nearly in the east
Mars is evening star setting at about
1n:5o pm. 1t is now few degrees east of
ReSulus. During the month 1t will move
eastward through the constellation Leo.
Jupiter still shines brilliantly an even
ing star, about Ia degrees east of Spica. 1t
is still near enough to us to be fine tele-
scopic object.
Safurn's Fine Appearance.
Saturn is evening star, now crossing
the meridian at about 1880 pm. 1t is about
l. degrees east of Antares. in the Scorpion.
appearing as an orange-yellow star. very
closely resembling Arcturus Saturn is
now favorably situated for observing with
telescope, barring its low altitude, and
now presents its finest appearance, the
rings being open this year to their
widest. Nothing farther has been reported
concerning the very tiny satellite OF Saturn
discovered by Prof. w. II. Pickering on
Photographic plates taken at Arequipa last
August Possibly this object may prove to
be not a satellite but planet Circling out
side Of Saturn.
Uranus. an evening star is about > de-
grees north of Antares. 1t may be seen
easily with an opera glass, and by Keen
sighted person with the naked eye. IL may
be recognized from its slow change Of po-
sition with respect to neighboring stars.
Its movement. like that of Saturn. is now
retrosrade. toward the west Neptune
is morning star. rising at about am.
On the Sd Of this month the earth Will be
at its farthest from the sun-3,0oO.0 Go miles
farther than the LIST of January.