Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-15
THE OCTOBER SKIES
a Wonderful Group Of Cancellations
The MILKY way and the Fixed
stara

Queen of Ethiopia. according to the
ancient legend; Cepheus, her husband;
Andromeda. her daughter Pcrseus.
rescuer of Andromeda and afterward her
husband. and Pegasus, the winged horse
on which Perseus anticipated the Wright
brothers. Some add Cetus. the monster
who intended swallowing Andromeda,
but tho undoubted members Of the family
are bound to consider this a preposterous
intrusion.
Casslapa may be recognized at once
by an irregular W-shaped figure having
some resemblance to a brokenbacked |
chair. This figure is commonly referred |
to az the Lady in her Chair. Tho figure |
Is IL the milky way and may be seeen we'll
up In the northwestern sky ut an early |
hour OF the evening 1t has. besides the
bright stars mentioned. n total Of about
100 visible to the naked eye under favor
able circumstances and many hundreds
which appear in the opera glass or small
telescope.
Cepheus, ms Is common with the hus-
bands OF distinguished ladies', very much
neglected, so far as public attention goes.
Both in the legend and in the sky he cuts
but n small figure. The constellation
Is near Cassiopea, outside the milky way
and Is better identified IN a way to be
mentioned presently. Perseus may be
found readily by looking downward from
Cassopeia along the milky way until we
come to bending row of three bright
stars, the brightest in the middle. This
star Is named Mirfac, and Is OF interest
in helping to identify the two remaining
consultations or tho group. About mar
Hny between this star and CaSSOpeia is
a whitish patch which the slightest
optical aid shows to be the famous cluster
in the Sword Handle OF Perseus. 1t should
be remarked that sword. handle. and man
existed In imagtnations better than those
| or the present DAY, Tor our utmost en-
deavors can find in the group no resent
blance to the NEUROLOGICAL figures.
| The star Mirfac Is one of row OF four
! bright stars stretching away TO the south
and east, and ending In the corner or the
Great square OF Pegasus The stars OK
this row other than Mrfac belong to the
CONSERVATION Androhiehoh' ana are named
In order from that star Almaack. Merach.
and Alpharez the latter being In the cor
ner OF tho Great Square.
Above Merach we find star of lesser
magnitude; above this one OF still less
white patch OF light against the sky
This ls the stupendous object, the Great
Nehula In Aniromeda 1t Is the only
neoula easily visible to the naked eye.
An opera glass. of course. brings It into
clearer view. once located its identihca-
ton is immediate and certain. and there
Will be little difficulty In finding 1t there
after.
Below the line OF stars. and forming
triangle with M!rfac and Almaack. is a
star Of brightness about equal to those
stars. This Is Algoi. the Demon Star. and
In the NEUROLOGICAL charts It Is placed IN
the head Of the Gorgon Medusa. This star
for ages has been noted for Its extraordi-
nary fluctuations In brightness, which
gained for 1t the formidable title by
which It was long known. Ordinarily Of
what Is known as the second magnitude
OF brighteness. It sinks Mt regular inter-
walls to the fourth magnitude, continuing
at the lowest degree but a short time.
and then Frightening as gradually as IL
sank. BY observations carried over a
great period Of time It has been determin-
ed that the lowest point occurs at inter-
walls Of days % hours 4s minutes and
ST seconds In other words. II mini
I1ufTl Ol bilEItHtss ot<ui Ni'o V'Ni'HS' ~
will occur three evenings hence. but n
little more than three hours earlier. II
this carries the hour OF observation back
into the daylight additional figuring will
bring us to time when 1t will fall In
the darkness or early morning then
around the midnight hour and finally at
} n comfortable hour Of the evening Then
II clouds interfere, we can begin all over
! again.
: This wonderful phenomenon, which ex-
cited many absurd theories during the
ages IN which It remained mystery
withing recent years has been shown "a
be tho result OF gigantic satellite or
planet RAISING between us ana the pr,ght-
err star. Tho latter. which Is somewhat
greater than our sun. has as companion
or satellite body about tho size OF tha'
luminary and. consequently almost as
big as itself. This revolves ABOUT inc
bright star at distance or only aoou'
four million miles. and once IN lis c'rcu"
comes between us and the brisht STAR
: shutting OF n greater portion OF the hsh'
The great size and complete darkness o.
the satellite raises the PROBABILITY 'hat II
did not originate ut the same ime WIFE
the bright star. but came In as wan
derer ages after It's own extinction ms
star. to be held forever by the ponos o.
gravity. body OF death fastened 10
living star. October 3, about p M
October o. a little before 10. ana the MN
soon after sunset. Will be favorable times