The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-02
THE HEAVENS IN JUNE.
BY PROFESSOR DOOL1TTLE,
Astronomer 81 tic University Of Pennsylvania.


OF all the bright consultations OF win.
ter, the Lion alone remains with US, and
this Is rapidly sinking toward the ground
In the West The great group Boots, or
the Drives. with the northern crown, Is
now directly overhead, while In the
northeast the magnificent summer star
Vega has climbed more than half way
UP the sky, and It's beautiful followers
the Swan and the Eagles Appear In the
early evening for tho first time this year.
Tho peculiar group Scorpio, which
bears SO striking resemblance to the
animal from which 1t is named, Is well
above tho ground In the south, It's up.
stretched claws reaching almost to the
meridian and Its curving tall extending
downward into tho milky way. The sum
rcr half OF tho Galaxy Is now with us,
and on u clear might 1t may be traced all
tho way from Pcrseus In the northwest,
through Cnss,opoea, the swan, and tho
Engle, 10 below Scorpio IN tho south.
This half OF tho milky way Is fur moro
broiicn UP and Irregular than the par
seen in winter. Between Scorpio and the
| Swan It is especially interesting; bright
ureau alternate with lanes and vacant
spaces us II the great universe OF stars
which compose 1t was subject to forces
which move. not worlds only, nor suns,
Tho observer Gun now trace out tho
long constellation OF the Serpent. This
tN;ns near the northern Crown, passes
southwark and eastward through the
Serpent Bearer. and finally runs along
the center OF tho milky why until It al
most meets to tho Eaglo. IT was here
thut the early Arabian located their
group called tho Pasture The bounda-
ries OF this constellation were the sturs OF
lot A In ~ xx1 X
l. were tho shepherd and his dog. tho en-
closed stars being tho sheep. Tho star NJ
In tho serpcnty tail, which lies between
tho two branches OF tho milky way,Nis q
double easily seen In email glass. The
star at d Is moro difficult double, while
that at II has u minute twelfth mngni.
tudo companion. 1t Is from the direction
OF the star F that tho shooting stars
which arc seen about the middle Of Feb.
runry, appear to come.
The magnificent group Scorpo with its
fiery rod star Antores, at p, Is one OF tho
most ancient Of oil consultations. 1t
probably originated In the early Euphra-
team astronomy OF six thousand years
ago. when the zodias contained but six
signs instead Of twelve. Even when the
number OF divisions was increased to
twelve, scorpio was kept undivided fas q
double sign. In later times the two stars
which marked the claws weFt separated
Into little group named Sbrn, or tho
Balances, thus mutilatlng and destroy
Ing the interesting and ancient figure.
Scorpio was the slayer OF the giant
BrIon, who still sinks below tho horizon
in fear just as the Scorpion begins to rise.
In the very earliest times It was the sym
Dol OF darkness. probably because tho
SUMS power declines When 1t enters this
constellation after the autumnal equinox.
To astrologers tho group was known as
tho accused constellation, pretending war
and discord. The appearance OF a comet
here was supposed to promise plague
Of reptiles and insects. This malign char
actcr may have been ascr!bed to 1t from
tho fiery Autares, or from association
with tho qualities Of Its poisonous earthly
names AS several new stars have
here blazed out in early times, somc have
| thought 1t might DE to these that its
| evil reputation is due.
The bright star Autares has q greenish
| companion but slightly more than L.rec
seconds away. In q small telescope this
| is lost In the over-powering brightness
! Of tho larger star. It Is said that this
| little attendant was first discovered dur