The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-09
,,,n,tedn the task recurring extraordinary

,initedh the task requiring extraordinary
keenness OF observation. Thus we have
found that our nearest nelgnooI. IN ,n ths
Centauri whose distance Is three and d
half light years. A light year Is the dlS-
lance which the swiftest OF all travel
iers the light would traverse in year
Such distances expressed by miles-nay.
even by the distance OF the sun from the
earth-would present numbers that convey
no means to our minds ana conse9 el,lsi1 ~
that of the light year, became a matter
of absolute necessity. 80
When we reflect that with Alpha Zen,
tauri we have reached only the threshold
Of the universe, we cannot but bow our
heads in silence. and humility before the
unfathomabie grandeur of the universe
and It's onanpo sl Cre al9Er v1s1p1E
During the early evening hours OF teo-
ruary we see spread out on the con
cave vault of the heavens :, many my Of hod the
Sirius, the brightest Hxed star In the
heavens. which rivals the planets IN
splendor. is now on the meridian II ma
he readily located down in the southern
heavens on the southwestern edge of the
Milky Wav Sirius. otherwise known as
the Dog Star. was used by the ancient
| Thebans in determining the length OF the
year.
and on the opposite side OF the Mti',v
av We the bright first magnitude
star Procion, while due north of Pro
tween this star and the North Star are
situated the twin stars. Castor ana Poi-
lux, only a short DISTANCE apart. Que
east from Castor and Pollux and aoou'
half way between them and the horizon.
we see bright ReSulus situated IN the
constellation Leo or The Lion. In the
Hebrew zodiac the Lion was ass'r"eH TO
Judah on whose standard. according 10
| numerous evidences. lion was painted
The constellation Orion. situated not Tar
from the southwestern edge OF the NJ
Way and in northwesterly direction
| from the Dog Star. is still the most mag
nificent constellation in the winter heav
| ems and cannot fail to engage the atten-
| ton of even the most Indifferent of star
Sazers.
Just to the northwest OF Orion Is Tau
| rus. the Bull. containing those ever mem
| orsable star groups. the HyadeS ana Ple-
| ladies'. so often mentioned in holy Wrlt
This constellation which was almost di-
-ectIv overhead last mon. h. has now pass
! ed the meridian and is slowly bending his
! way towards the western horizon ne
! Consultations. Auriga. Perseus CASIO
| -eia and Genius strung in the order
| named along the northern part or re
Milky yVav are conspicuo1s CONS on the
ce!estia, vault. but space forbids our Civ
| ing then, more than q nassine notice,
| THE MORNING AND EVENING STARS
OF the planets Mars is now 700 near the
sun for ton. setting about the
same time with this Iumrary. Venus
! NAV however. be seen as even'-r 60
during the early mart Of the month oy
| those who look close to the western no
| rizon soon after. twilight, Mercury also
can be seen at the same time on1v few
degrees to the south of Venus both MAN
cts setting about the same time Venus
will be in conjunction with the sun on
the 14th Of the month and for some DAYS
before and after this event we lose sieht
of her. but towards the last OF the month IN
she reappears TO our view. this f'-'H as
morning -+ar wtAr she nav be seen ve-y
close to the eastern horizon just before
the break of dav
The most ancient nations did not recos-
nIze the evening star Venus and the
morninr star Venus as one and the same
body. hut supposed they We're different
nlsnets and accor1ineiy gave them differ
ant names calling the evening star Hos
narlls ard the morning star L,Ic'fer TIE
| ,rine1v Jupfter who has hean too cioSo TO
the sun to he, see, for some time =
| r,ses toward the last of the mort at
aboI,t ttes same time Venus and NAV
be seen some distance 70 rne south OF her
close 10 the horizon JUST hasore the King
| of Day with hts sura-'n~ asnIgence
eclipses all the other celestial lights
y