The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-04-02
HOLD THE MAP ~
OVER YOUR HEAD 90
THE TOP N0RTH.AN
YOU WILL SEE THE STA
AND PL LANETSJUST AS
THEY APPEAR IN THE HI

Sirius, the brightest OF the fixed stars,
will be found due south and well up from
the horizon i'm the early evening Above
and 10 the west. and shining more bril-
liantly will be found the planet Jupiter
The natural impression from the compar-
atlve size OF these two bodies would be
that Jupiter were much the larger body.
Jupiter Is the largest planet In our solar
system, moro than 400 times the size OF
our earth but compared with Sirius,
which is 30 times the size OF our sun. Ju-
piter becomes Insignificant Jupiter APP
pears larger because It is so much nearer.
being only $50 million miles distant from
the sun. while Sirius Is 81 trillon
miles distant.
Stellar distances arc quite appalling ana
well nigh incomprehenslble TO the finite
mind. There are probably not more than
80 stars whose distances we may say are
fairly well established. The nearest
Centauri, in the southern hemisphere, Is
25 trilion miles distant and the next
nearest is 81 Cygni. in the Northern Hem
isphere-i9 trillion miles away. The lat
ter Is the fifth magnitude and can only
be seen on a particularly clear night In
the constellation Cygnus.
Our North Polar star Is ZIG trlllion miles
from the sun. All these known distances
are eclipsed By the mighty Arcturus. now
coming into our evening sky, which is
nearly 1000 trillion miles away and shin
ing with over 5000 times the quantity OF
light emitted by our sun. The light from
Sirius Is eight and one-half years in
reaching the earth. and from Arcturus
100 years.
COMPANION OF SIRIUS.
Sirius has companion body OF about
the ninth magnitude, which was discov-
cred In 1862; IL is not visible except In the
most powerful telescopes owing 10 the
brlllancy OF Sirius and is about one tril-
lion miles distant from Its overshadowing
companion. Jupiter having been station
airy for sometime near Pleiades, mas again
started on its journey east. Mars growing
fainter I'm the western eky. but moving
faster than Jupiter. Is rapidly closing ths
gap between them Venus will be with us
late this month and with steadily increas-
ing brilliancy and splendor 10 charm US
IN the oevnng sky for some months TO
come
Splra, the beautiful fret magnitude
star. I'm the constellation Virgo, Is now
coming into view from the east. This star
can be easily located by following the
sweep OF the handle OF the Big Dipper
around the unmistakable Arcturus, and
Spira will be the first large star directly
below g.
corona. lnt UITlntlU ClONn fOUtlfllt-
tlon, will be found Just east OF Bootes.
It's name is not misnomer for its forna-
| tion clearly suggests n crown or stars
Corvis. the crow Just below Virgo IS a
we'll defined and easily identified group
| OF stars. but requires powerful imagina-
| tion to see anything bird-like In it's for
nation. The old constellation figure de-
| signs show Il as a crow feeding upon the
| body OF tho snake Hydra, whose body
| winds In rather faintly defined string
| OF stars more tnan half way across the
| sky.
Crater. as It's name signifies. il a cup
| and is well named Argo Navis--the shr
| lis properly n southern constellation
which az this season shows its topsails
above our horizon.
The Pleaidcs. n rather faint group oi
Ave stars, as eeen by the naked eye. lies
| not more than nve degrees west OF Ju.
piter. the hvt of April. and IN n very
beautiful star cluster. and IL seen to best
advantage through a low power tclescop,
or an opera glass.
GRANDEsT OF ALL.
orion. the grandest OF all ,he cons,el.
lations is gradually drawing away from
our evening sky and In few weeks more
will have passed below the western horl-
zon. within this magnificent group OF
stars lie the most wonderful examples
of nebulao that are 20 be found anywhere
I'm the heavens These great masses OF
embryo worlds are found scattered about
as though u was the Creators workshop.
The most strki nslv beautiful example
lies around tho central star I'm the sword
% orion ard is dlmiy visible 20 tho naked
eye as blurred star disc (see map, The
star Retelgense ~ this group gives sew
eral hundred times the light OF the sun.
Aldebaran. the red star In the constel-
lation Taurus lies only few degrees
east OF the Pleaides Jupiter is nearing
IL on its journey east ana will pass ~
about May 1. Aldebaran r. 1si trillion
miles distant from the sun and its light
L. - years In reaching the earth In
other words n 50 was destroyed tonight
We should continue 10 sec ~ shining on
for 9 years 10 come.
LEON nARRITT