Evening star., 1901-06-01
THE SKIES IN JUNE
Three Monsters That Figure on the
Celestial Chart.
COMPASS OF ANCIENT MARINERS
Recording the Changes in the
North Poles Position.
PLANETS OF THE MONTH

Written for The Evening Star
Three of the monsters which adorn-Or
disfigure-the old-time celestial chart be-
long to the order Reptilia. namely. the
Hydra, or Water-snake; the Dragon and
the Serpent proper. All of these celestial
reptiles Will be above the horizon at
o clock this evening.
The largest, yet the most inconspicuous of
these three serpents, is the Hydra, which
has a length of over one hundred degrees;
that is. it is long enough. if suspended
perpendiCularly in the sky, to 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 or
four stars. of which the central and bright
est one-the eye-is of the third magnitude,
will be situated tonight. at the hour named,
low in the west, beneath the star Regulus
In the handle of the Sickle. The tip Of It's
tail is on the meridian, below and little
to the left Of the bright star Spica, in
Virgo
Between these two points the body of
the Hydra stretches in wavy line, nearly
parallel with the horizon. but containing
only one star brighter than the fourth
magnitude This star is Cor Hydrae, the
Hydra's Heart, situated at about one
fourth of the distance from the head to the
tude. 1t is unmistakable from it's loneliness.
On the back Of the Hydra and directly be-
meath the constellation Virgo stand the
Cup and the Crow which. with the aid of
the chart given here should be found
easily. though with one or two exceptions
the stars which form them are below the
third magnitude.
Serpent and Serpent-Holder.
The Serpent and the serpent-holder,
Ophiuchus. occupy together the greater
part of the southeastern quadrant of the
heavens. The Serpent's head, at about
two-thirds of the distance from the south
eastern horizon to the zenith, Is formed by
a small triangle of stars two of the third
magnitude-the eyes-and one of the
fourth, situated ten or twelve degrees
south of the Northern Crown and about
twice far east of Arcturus. This head
having been found. the Serpents body can
be traced downward into the southern hem
iSphere. where It takes a sharp curve to
the east. and continues in this direction
with numerous wriggles-according to the
chart-until it terminates near the star
Affair in the Eagle.
The head of Ophiuchus IS marked by a
bright second-magnitude star about as far
east of the Serpent's head as that head is
east of Arcturus. In his left shoulder is
very noticeable pair of third-na gnitude
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 shoulder is marked by
little group Of stars, of which one is of the
third magnitude. The Serpent holder
stands with his left foot dangerously near
the Scorpion. With these hints the figures
as srudely drawn upon our chart should
be found easily. II is worth noting that
Ophiuchus which Is one of the oldest of
the consultations. being mentioned by
Homer. stands exactly opposite Orion on
the celestial sphere.
Northern COnstellatiOns.
Facing the north Gnvert the charb, we
shall find the wellknown Great Dipper--the
plow Of our English cousins. the old-time
Charles wain-at nearly it's greatest al
titude. above and at the left of the pole
star. its two pointers now lowermost.
On our right. in the northeast, are the
Lyre, readily located by means of the bril-
or Northern Cross. The region between
these last-named consultations and the
Great Dipper Is occupied by the Dragon.
DracO. and the Little Bear I-rsa Minor
better known as the Little Dipper. The
Dragons two fierce" or flashing" eyes
as they are styled by ancient poets-a con-
spicuous pair of second magnitude stars
about three degrees apart-are situated at
one-third of the distance from Vega to the
bowl of the Great Dipper. The Dragons
body, which has roughly the shape of a re-
Nersed letter s. is we'll marked by stars CT
the third and lower ma agnitudeS, though
some imagination is required to see its nu-
nerous coils.
Compass of the Ancient Mariners,
The Little Dipper. like the Great Dipper,
Is formed of seven stars, one of wffch-at
the end OF the handle, tip Of the tail of the
Little Bear-is Polaris. the Pole or North
Star. The pair of stars in this group cor
responding to the pointers in the Great
D!pper are known as the Guardians Of the
Pole" These stars and the Pole Star it
self are a triae below the second nagni-
tude and are much brighter than the re-
naming stars In the group.
Ii was ty this constellation rather than
by any single star that the ancient Greek
and Phoenician sailors directed their
course at night. the two guardians being
1000 years ago much nearer the true north
pole of the heavens than was the star
which at the present time very nearly
marks it's place. One OF the names by
which this constellation was known to the
Greeks was Cynosura- The name means
literally Dogs Tail" 1t would seem to
times regarded as a dog rather than
bear. particular stress being laid on the
extraordinary length Of its caudal ap-
pendage- The name survives in our word
cynosure, applied to object which at
tracts all eyes, as anciently did this con-
Stellation.
The third star from the tip of the ORA
CONS tail. situated midway between the
Guardians of the Pole and MiZar, the mid
Gle star In the handle OF the Great Dip-
per, Alpha Draconis, is a star of consid-
cradle notoriety. Some 1000 years ago
this was the Pole Star, being then but a
trihe over three degrees from the true
mas held prominent place In the discus