The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-10
CHAIR OF CASSlOPEIA.

Next to the Great Dipper, the Chair of
Cassiopeia is the best known asterism in
the northern heavens. The celestial maps
represent CaSsiopeia seated on a throne in
regal state, surrounded by her family. At
her right stands her husband Cepheus,
King OF Ethiopia, with one foot resting on
the eQuinoctial colure and the other over
the North Star.
"CeDheus illumes
The neighboring heavens: still faithful TO
his queen.
With thirty-five faint luminaries markd."
The beautiful circumpolar constellation of
Cassiopeia may be seen from our latitude at
ell hours OF the night. and may be traced
cut in any month of the year. 1t contains
ffty-fve stars visible TO the naked eye, OF
which Caph is in some respects the most
notable. Caph IS in the front leg OF the
chair. and is, therefore, easily found, even
BY novice. 1t is so close TO the equinoc-
tial colure that IL is used by navigators and
surveyors for determining latitude and the
magnetic variations OF the compass.
In illustration or the practical uses OF as
tronomy Sir John Herschel says: That a
man by merely measuring the moons ap-
parent distance from a star, with a little
portable instrument held in his hand, and
applied TO his eye, even with so unstable a
footing as the deck of ship, shall say posi-
lively within five miles of where he is, on a
boundless ocean, cannot but appear TO per-
cons ignorant of physical astronomy an ap-
proach To the miraculous. The alterna-
tives OF life and death, wealth and ruin, are
daily and hourly staked, with perfect con-
Gdence, on these marvellous computations"
Caph also marks the locality in the heav-
ems made memorable as being the place oil
8 lost star. On Nov. s. 1572-forty years
before the telescope was invented-Tyeho
Brahe SAW a star near Caph in the corstei-
lsuon of Cassiopeia. 1t soon became SO
brilliant that it outshone the brightest
planets and was seen even at noon In De-
oembe- IL began TO wane, and IN the follow
ing May II became entirely extinct. Tycho
left an extended account Of this most re-
Ensrksble star According 10 kepler, sim
liar phenomenon was observed in the foot
OF Serpentarius. near where the planet
Saturn now nightly shines. This new star
was first noticed in October, 1904. and II soon
attained the first magnitude. Early in 1906 II
faded from sight forever. These occurrences
are not unusual. Within hundred years No
less than thirteen stars have disappeared
ard ten new ones have come into view.
South OF Cassiopeia is the constellation OF
Andromeda It's principal star is Alpheratz
IN the head OF cassiopeia- 1t Is very close
10 the equinoctial colure and also marks the
northeastern corner OF the Great Square OF
Pegasus. which now rises at about o'clock
and by nine is a conspicuous figure in the
eastern sky. A line drawn from the North
Star through Caph and Alpheratz will In
cicats the course or the first meridian oil
the heavens Eastward from this line tht
positions Of all the stars are measured D,
what is called right ascension 1t u
sideriaI noon when this line crosses the me-
ridian. and. astronomically speaking. IT Il
now noon at about o'clock a. m
Near the northwest extremity of the girdlt
jetAndromsda u = remarkable nebula. plain