Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-04-28
POPULAR COURSE
IN ASTRONOMY
Contributed BY }. G. COOPER. :. $.

Contributed BY }. G. COOPER. o.
Since this article is devoted
wholly to stars. it is necessary to
define few terms before entering
into discussion Of special stars and
consultations. l. Stars, as shown
by their spectra (light-analyses) ate
suns, that is, they are bodies like
our sun, having their own heat
and light. 2. Consultations are
groups Of stars to many Of which
have been given fanciful names,
mostly Of persons or objects conspi-
cuous in the mythology Of antiqui-
ty. 3. The Magnitude of q star
means its brightness to US. 4.
The ratio of magnitude denotes
their relative brightness, which is
about 81; that is, star Of the first
magnitude is two and one-half
times as bright as one of the second
magnitude, one of the second is q
times as bright as one of the third.
and so on. S. A light year is the
distance light travels in a year, be
ing about 5.875, 900, 600, 900 miles.
IN. B. Star maps representing
20 of the leading consultations now
visible are now at the Post office,
Public Library, the Depot, and the
Schoolhouse and the Tribune Office.
See them, then hunt the stars in
the sky.)
The constellation Leo, the L ion
Of the sky, consisting of II stars
plainly visible to the naked eye,
lies just above Jupiter and at 9
o'clock can be seen directly south
about .two-thirds up the sky (appar-
emily p. His fore leg, consisting
of stars, and head Of 2 lie to the
right of Jupiter, while his hind leg
of stars and tail of one lie to the
left of Jupiter. His fore part has
the figure of a great sickle with its
handle downward toward the hori-
zon and its curving blade open west
ward. At the end of the handle Of
this sickle glows Regulus, the lead
er of this constellation, usually
classed as of the first magnitude,
but is about II magnitude and Of q
whitish color, and is called the
Lions Heart" Denebola. situat-
ed at the end of the tail, IS also q
beautiful star of the second magni-
tude. Neary all of the old nations
saw a lion in this constellation.
The Greeks said it was the Nemean
Lion slain by Hercules. In the
middle ages it was identified with
Daniels Lion of Biblical fame.
SIR1US-the DOG Star"
Look to the southwest (about 80
degrees sw.) and about / up the
sky from the horizon to the zenith
at s o'clock in the evening now
scientifically in Right Ascension
100 degrees and Defamation l6t de.
grees SOUTH and you will see the
brightest of all stars, to us-Sirius
the Dog STAR the leader of the
constellation CAMS Major, the
Greater Dog. In magnitude Sirius
is in a class by itself, being nearly
q times as bright as star Of the
first magnitude. Alderman for in
stance. It is impossible to be gull
ty Of exaggerati0n in speaking o.
the splendid beauty of Sirius. L
has a hundred moods. according t.
the state of the air. Sometimes
when the air is still, the star burn
with a steady white light, not flick
ering any; then, as invisible al
waves flow over it. it's rays sprea'
and leap and flutter;. By turns j
flames, it sparkles, it glows, i
blazes, it flares, it flashes, etc. H
is about Al 900, 600, 000. 900 miles
light years, away from the earth
and is 3 times as bright as the sun
The time of Sirius rising wit
the sun in an early period was cor
nected with the idea of intens
summer heat, and Muller think
that it was called the Dog Star Q
account Of the prevalence of canin
madness at that season. In 4 B. {
it rose just before the sun at Il
hottest season of the year, when<
the "dies caniculariae," or dc
days." Of the Romans. The const'
= llation consists of some Is stars v
ng sible to the naked eye which if CO..
of nected by lines may be imagined
lie resemble dog, standing up on h
or hind legs. Mythologically Siri,
ce has been called by the Greeks D
:or ana's hunting dog, by the Scand
eel navians Sigurd's dog, and Il
:or Egyptians worshipped him as Siho
I'm and as being the Nile star, Il
The fore runner of it's annual flood.
liza The Constellation ORION.
arl Now turn your eyes to about
degrees southwest in altitude 4
or one-third way up the sky a
you will behold the "Golconda
fI the heavens the brilliant cons,
- llation of Orion. The two gre
first magnitude stars, Betelgeu
ma in his right shoulder and Rigel