The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-01

A diadem is not necessarily a COM
plete circle, while the scattered stars
included in the constellation do not in
terfere with the symmetry of the from
tai wreath. AS the absurd fancies of
thousands of years ago have claim
on attention not given to the fable
of today, we can look with thoughtful
interest at the crown of .Ariadne as ''its
diamonds glisten in the distant skies.
The daughter of Minos. king of Crete,
rescued Theseus, king of Athens,
from the winding labyrinth where
devouring monster ensnared his VIC
tins. The island of Naxos was the
scene of her separation from the I'M
grateful Theseus. whom she had mar
ried, but Bacchus, recognizing her
worth, gave orders that her crown be
placed among the stars.
In less pleasing myth the curving
group is regarded as the platter-eyi-
IDENTIFY broken platter-of osme aus
tere poverty loving dervish; and AL
phecca, it's brightest star. derives its
name from this unpretentious smile.
AS Athens and the islands-of Naxos
and Crete have the same latitude as
localities in California, we have IA
cilities for viewing the interesting
group at the same altitude as the star
it is seen as from Athens;tin San Luis
Obispo, higher aloft, as from the island
of Crete, and when on the meridian
of San Diego it hovers in the zenith,
as over Babylon.
Between dusk and moonrise on Au-
gust it may be easily recognized
degrees south and 10 degrees west of
the zenith of San Francisco, and as the
season advances will be found some
what farther west.
To modern thought the constellation
brings no romantic fancies, and though
the evenness of the curve is remarkable
it can only be classed as an accident
of distribution until the laws of stellar
motion are more fully unveiled. Com
mencing on the east side, its starry
gems, which form two-thirds of
circle, are named from the letters of
the Greek alphabet as follows:
Iota, Epsilon, Delta, Gamma, Alpha,
(also named Alphecca, Beta, Theta.
A, iS
classed as Sirian star. This signifies
that it shines with white light, which,
when analysed. reveals that hydrogen
is a conspicuous ingredient of the orb
Its spectrum also indicates motion
through space away from the direc-
of 20 miles in one second of time. As
there is no record of a decrease in
its light, we gain from this some idea
of the immensely in connection with
stellar size and distance.
Gamma Coronae, on the east side OF
AIphecca, though to the naked eye
seemingly one star, when observed with
large telescope is seen to be COM
posed of two orbs, one of fourth and
the other of six and a half magnitude.
They revolve round their common cen
ter of gravity in 951 years, reversing
positions and seeming alternately to
approach and recede from each other.
Being under observation for many
years it is known that in 1897 the pair
will resume the close position they held
in 1S43. Sigma and Eta, adjacent, but
not forming part of the symmetrical
curve, are also double stars of long
period, while U. Coronae, of seven and a
half magnitude, was discovered by
volving with dark companion round
their common center of gravity in 8
days 10 hours and 81 minutes. M
and M 2, northeast of the break in the
starry circle, though one star of fourth
magnitude to average vision, are easily
seen with an opera glass to be four
minutes of an arc apart.
Small though its area, this constel-
lation has been the scene of that great
est of stellar wonders-a new star In
1000, OlI MAY L. Tic C1OWlt SuOucIlly
acquired brilliant gem rivaling AL
phecca and altering the aspect of the
group without impairing its wreathing
effect. It was named t. Coronae. On
the diagram small circle marks its
place. In the short list of new stars
it was surpassed only by Nova Cassie
peiae, 1872. and Nova Persei, 1901, and
supplied the first opportunity for the
study of such phenomena by spectrum
analysis. In nine days it had gradually
faded to seventh magnitude, and with
faint fluctuations decreased to tenth
magnitude in few years. at which
dim stage it still remains. If new stars
are really varlables of long period, the
crown may resume its temporary gem
at some future day