Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-12-07

is in reality made up OF snch SINAI
bodies, in fact, that comet is notninS
but an assemblago of little meteors,
though of the magnitude OF eaoh OF
these meteorlc bodies we are unable 10
saw anything certain. As TO the orbits
in which comets move there. preVaiis
great variety. While all the other
members, as planets and satellites
move in eliipses, tho comets move IN
ellipses, parabolas and hyrerbolas, the
latter two being curves that do not
close, but having the property common
with the ellipse of being comic sections
OF tho comets the orbits of which have
been computed "a per cent are para
bolic, while but small number are
hyperhoiic Those whose orbits are
elipses have either returned perioui-
cally, or their orbits have Eeen SO
changed by perturbations as to come
no longer near enough to the earth to
be seen.
South of the constellation Perseus
we sec at about o'clock in the evening
in course of the month of December
two stars of the third magnitude,
which, in conjunction of fainter star,
form small right triangle, with one
log rather short. This is the little
constellation Triangulum, or the Tri-
angle, which would be too unimportant
to he mentioned were it not for the
fact of its pertaining to the ancient ~
of Ptolemy. Due south of the Triangle
three stars at short distances from each
other constitute the characteristic con
fguration of the zoadical constellation
Aries, or the Ram, which, according
to Hipparchus, the most famous of the
astronomers of antiquity, and Justly
called the Father of Astronomy, ocen :
pied the first sign in the ecliptic, which
means that at that time the vernal
equinox was in that constellation. In
consequence of the procession Of the
eduinoxes. the constellation Aries has
shifted into the sign of Taurus. The
principal star in Aries is Alpha, or
llamal, pretty double star, and one
| of the nautical stars which enable the
navigator to determine the place where
he is by measuring tho distance of
any of them from the moon. Tho other
two stars in that constellation are
Beta and Gamma. all three forming a
very obtuse triangle with the obtuse
triangle at Beta. Northeast of Alpha
| is n little star, Al Arutis, which, with
Gamma tranquil and Alpha Arietis,
forms little asteiism, sometimes called
Musca, or the Fly, but on the whole
seldom mentioned in the catalogues of
stars. South of Aries and Pisces is
situated the largest constel lation in the
heavens-Cetus, or the Sea Monster.
Its head lies about 20 degrees southeast
of Alpha Arietis and is marked by n
pentagonal figure of stars. The south
ernmost side of this figure is formed
by the stars sAlpha, or Mankar, and
Gamma. Southwest of the latter at q
considerable distance from ii is the
star Beta, or Deneb Ceti, the brightest
in the whole constellation. This stan
marks the tail of the monster In this
constellation, near its centre. lies thf
celebrated variable star, Omicron Ceti,
or, by its more familiar name, NJ ira,
meaning the Wonderful. Its nature n.
a variable star was discovered in 1896.
During the greater time of its varia.
bility it is very faint star of the ninth
magnitude, invisible to the unaided
eye, but once in II months it assumes
the brightness of the fourth and third,
and even the second, magnitude. The
constellation Perseus, in the n)rth,
and Taurus, in the northeast. are
closely approaching the meridian, while
in the west Aguila and Capricornu.
have set and Vega and Cygnus are on
the point of setting. Capella and Aide
baran, with the PIeiades, are high up
and in the east the most brilliant grou,
of consultations in the whole heaven!
are rising up, above all the magnificen
star-picture, Orion. The presence O
these at an early hour in the evening
announces the coming Of the wintel
season.