Evening journal., 1901-06-29
BRAUTIRS Oh THB
SUMMER SKIES
Three StrppTlS to be Seen
al Nine O'clock These
Nights


disheure-the old-,iine celestial chart be-
long 10 the order reptiia, namely, the
hydra. or water snake; the dragon and the
serpent proper. All of these celestial rep
tiles viii be above the horizon at little
after o'clock.
The largest yq the most inccnsp. .cuous
of these three sehents is the hydra, which
has a length of over 100 degrees; that is,
It is long enough. II suspended perpen-
dicularly in the sky 10 reach from the
horizon to a point ten degrees beyond the
zenith. The head Of this monster, formed
by a short curved line of three OF four
stars. of which the central and brightest
one-the eye-is of the third magnitude,
is situated low in the West. beneath the
star Regulus, IN the handle of the Sickle.
The tip OF Its tail is on the meridian. be-
low and little to the left of the bright
star Spica, in Virgo.
Between these two points the body of
the Hydra stretches In a wavy line, nearly
parallel with the horizon, but containing
only one star brighter than the fourth
magnitude. This star is Cor IIydrae. the
Hydra's hear, situated at about one
fourth OF tho distance from the head to
the tail. On the back of the Hydra and
directly beneath the constellation Virgo
stand the cup and the crown
THE sERPENT's HEAD.
The Serpent and the serpent-holder,
Ophiuchus, occupy together the greater
part of the southeastern quadrant OF the
heavens. The serpents head. at about
two-thirds OF the distance from the south
eastern horizon 10 the zenith. is formed
by a small triangle.of stars, two of tho
third magnitude-the eyes-and one OF the
fourth. situated ten or twelve degrees
south Of the Northern Crown and about
twice as far east of Arcturus. This head
having been found. the serpents body
can be traced downward into the south
ern hemisphere, where it takes a sharp
curve TO the east, and continues in this
direction with numerous wriggles-ac-
cording to the chart-until II terminates
near the star Affair in the Eagle
The head of Ophiuchus is marked by a
bright second-magnitude star about, as
far cast of the serpenrs head as that
head Is east Of Acturus. In his left
shoulder is very noticeable pair OF third
magnitude stars. about equally distant
from his head and the serpent s.. and a
similar, but rather brighter and wider
pair marks his left hand. His right shoul-
der is marked by a little group Of. stars,
Of which one IS OF the third magnitude.
The SerDent-holder stands with his left
foot dangerously near the Scorpion. With
these hints the figures, as crudely drawn
upon our chart. should be found easily. 1t
is worth noting that Ophluchus, which is
one Of the Oldest Of the consultations,
being mentioned by Homer. stands ex-
actly opposite Orion on the celestial
sphere
Facing the north Onvert the charD we
shall find the well-known Great Dipper-
the plough of our English cousins, the
old-tlme Charles wain-at nearly its
greatest altitude. above and at the left of
the pole star, its two pointers now low
ermost. On our right, in the northeast
are the Tyre, readily located by means OF
the brilliant Vega, and at a lower altitude
the Swan or Northern Cross. The region
between these last-named consultations
and the Great Dipper is occupied by the
Dragon. Draco and the Little Bear. Ursa
Minor, better known as the Little Dpper
The Dragons two fierce" or flashing
eyes, as they are styled by ancient poets
conspicuous pair of second-magnitudt
stars about three degrees apart-are sit.
uated at one-third of the distance from
Vega to the bowl OF the Great Dlpper
The Dragons body, which has rouehl,
the shape of q reversed letter S, Is wei
marked by stars Of the third and lower
magnitudes, though some imagination il
required to see its numerous coils.
The third star from the tip of the Ora
gon's tail, situated midway between tn,
Guardians OF the Pole and NIizar. the mid
die star in the handle of the Great Dip
per- Alpha Draconls is star Of consider
able notoriety Some 1900 years ago thi
was the Pole Star, being then but a trid
over three degrees from the true nortl
pole of the heavens. fact which has hell
a prominent place in the discussion re-
garding the age of the Egyptian pyra
mids
MERCURY EVENING STAR.
Mercury has been an evening star sine
May IA and by the first Of tnis mont
should become visible as such on. a clea
evening a half hour or so after sunset
low in the west. It will continue to b
III. -