The Washington times., 1903-03-31

some Of the popular names Of constel-
la1ions aid very much IN recognizing
them in the sky. It requires a vivid i'm
agination to see a bear in both the Big
and the Little B7pper. or the Ursae. as
they are scientifically known i is
equally bard 10 imagine a dog in either
CAMS. and thus It is in regard to a con
stellauon that at about o'clock on
Au-i evenings VIII be on our meridian.
Everybody at once recognizes in the
CONFEDERATION of its stars sickle. though
its scientific name Is Leo, or the Lion
Learned astronomers have declared
thai the consultations seem 10 have
been almost purposely named and de-
lineated % cause as much confusion and
Inconvenience as possible InnUmerable
snakes Irvine through long and comfort
ed areas Of the heavens where no mem
DRY can follow them. Bears, lions, and
fishes. small and large, Northern and
Southern. confuse all nomenclature.
Stellar System PeIveTse.
better system OF consultations
might have been material help as an
artificial memory. it has been suggest
ed. but. judging from the appearance of
the strange animals that fourished in
prehistoric times, il is barely possible
that the animals that we are at present
familiar with may have had an alto
gether different shape. and one that
more nearly approached the then ar
rangement Of the stars than is the case
a present
Leo IS fine constellation and is sit
uated almost exactly in the ecliptic. The
end of the handle of the Sickle is
marked by Alpha Leonts, or ReguIus,
sometimes also called Cor Leonis. which
is reckoned by most photographers as
first magnitude star About twenty-five
degrees east of il is The bright second
magnitude star, Beta Leonis. or Dene-
bolo. which comes to the meridian one
hour and forty minutes after Regulus.
Stars Below Regulus.
Below Regulus is a bright red star OF
the second magnitude. called Cor Hy-
drae. the Heart Of Hydra. also Alphard,
the principal star in the constellation
Hydra. with its riders, crater. or the
cup. and Corvus, or the Raven. It is a
very large eonteIIation, extending over
vast space in the heavens. Crater is
2 little contellation. and CoTyus. lying
just east Of il, a still smaller but more
conspicuous one. since It contains two
second magnitude and four third and
fourth magnitude stars.
The Twins, Castor. and Pollux. Proc
yon and Sirius. are bending toward the
west. CapelIa and the contellation Orion
rapidly approaching the horizon. soon to
disappear from the nocturnal heavens
they Rave for months adorned by their
incompatible beauty. The splendid star
Arcturus is climbing up in the east. and
down in the east we see the beautiful
summer constellation Scorpion rising
above the horizon, heralding in the
coming season Of summer
The April Sun.
The sun in April brings with its warm
rays a ripening and bursting of buds,
and seems to shine with such renewed
nster after the showers for which the
month is noted that we must ever re-
gard il as being OF the utmost import
ance 20 Us in all practical matters. Then.
too. its increasing warmth and the
Iengthening daylight tell US of pleasant
weather and delightful days almost
within hail
From day twelve hours and forty
minutes in length on the first Of the
month we increase to one thirteen hours
and hfty-nine minutes long at its close.
This makes a difference of almost 1--WE
hours from the short days in December.
a blessing that We are quite prepared to
appreciate, so much greater is our COM
fort. After the long winters waiting II
is a relief TO have the eyeIids OF the
morning unsealed al an early hour, and
10 have increasing day poured upon us.
And the appealing twilights, when Of
toward the dying sun the sky takes a
violet tint. and then a rose, and then a
SOFT rich red, so often turning TO a
glowing crimson that Is fecked and
spangIed with great glory Of flaming
gold. The red and golden gleamings of
the evening sky are reflected in the
river current. Each succeeding night
We should feel fresh Joy In beholdlng