The Washington times., 1903-06-01
GLORIOUS SIGHTS
IN THE JUNE SKIES
Splendor of the Stars in the Month of Roses---Ve-
nus High and Brilliant

The Milky Way is not conspicuous
evening it comedies somewhat closely
With the line of the horizon. AS we
turn our faces to the east, the most
conspicuous object which catches the
eye is a brilliant white star we'll up In
the northeast, with a small quadrilat-
eral of small stars adjoining. This is
Vega and the constellation Lyra. inter
eSting as being the identical Tyre, ac-
cording to the veracious authorities of
played his way in and out of Hades
There is an additional small star near
Vega, forming triangle with the lat
ter and the nearest star of the quad
rilate-al. and the whole group has, very
strikingly, the form of harp. 1t is an
Interesting conjecture that this figure
suggested the myth. and gave us what
has remained through the ages the best
love story that was ever told.
This small star outside the quadrilat-
eral is one of the most interesting in
the whole heavens. 1t is known simply
II the Greek letter name. Epsilon
Lyrae, and when viewed with the naked
eye is simply faint star, like thou
sands of others of similar low magni-
tude. Only an opera glass is needed to
show it as two stars of nearly equal
brightness A small telescope shows
these, in turn, to each consist of a pair
of stars situated at a vast distance
from each other.
Orbit of 100000 Years.
The whole group is physically con-
nected, each pair revolving around a
common center of gravity, and the two
pairs revolving in a much wider sweep
around their own common center. Five
hundred thousand years are thought TO
be occupied in this great orbitaI move
ment the pairs making their own little
revolutions in the short periods of / 600
and 1000 years respectively.
High up in the sky is the great star
Arcturus, even brighter than Vega, and
having distinct yellowish tinge. It is
of the constellation Bootes, or the Bear
Driver, who is supposed TO spend his
time in the enlivening occupation OF
chasing the Bear around the Pole.
Other stars of this const citation form q
kite-shaped figure, which lies between
Arcturus and the North Star Arcturus is
readily found by the fact that the handle
of the Big Dipper extended to three
times its own length brings us to the
star. Near to the kite-shaped figure is
beautiful semi circle of stars forming
the constellation Corona Borealis, or
the Northern Crown. Most of the stars
between this constellation and the Lyre
belong to Hercules.
Other Consultations.
South of these consultations are Ser
pens and ophiuchus, and still farther
south is Libra: and, rising in the south
east is the great red star Antares, in the
Scorpion. West of the meridian, in the
south, is the constellation of the Virgin.
with the white, frst-magnitude star
Spica, and having the planet Mars as
constellation of the Lion with ReguIus
at the western and Denebola at the east
ern extremity. Arcturus, Spica and Den
ehola form great equiIateral triangle.
About half way between Arcturus and
Regulus Is the constellation Coma Ber-
enicis, or Berenice's Hair, slender
threads of small stars, very interesting
ard beautiful when looked at through an
opera glass. Berenice was the wife of
ore Of the Egyptian Ptolemys, and upon
the occasion Of her husbands victory in
war sacrificed her beautiful shining
locks, in fulfilment of vow. The severed
strands were placed in the public treas
ury, whence, after time. they disap-
peared. Then there was trouble until a
willy old astronomer took the king out
one exceptionally clear night, and show
ed him the shining tresses in the sky.
where they still remain.