Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02
Naval Observatory Completes Catalogue Of the Stars


were mapped out into consultations
and groups of stars in which, by the
ala OF fertile imagination some re-
semblance was traced to the various
beasts. birds. fishes and classical heroes
whose names were assigned to them
The most ancient methods alluded to
the consultations by these distinctive
names In the Old Testament-the
Book of JOb-the bands of Orion" and
the sweet influence OF the Pleiades"
are mentioned; and in the writings of
Hesiod and Homer are names as ia
m1liar to the astronomer of today as
they were to the observer in the ages
when science was in its dawn. Be-
sides the designation by names Of the
most conspicuous stars and of the
groups OF consultations the stars in
each constellation are distinguished for
reference by letters and numbers. and
In connection with name or other dis
tinguishing designation of each of
them. astronomers have registered it's
place in the armament by measured CO.
ordfnates which are called declination
and right ascension, and which are
comparable with latitude and longitude
on the surface of the earth
In finding any star in the heavens from
map of the consultations, it is neces-
safy to refer TO some one star or constel-
latfon as known. such as the Great
Bear also called by the Latin name
"Ursa Major" and then to recognize
others in accordance with the configura-
ton of the map: for by supposing a line
to pass through two such known stars it
may also pass through or near another
star whose name is required; or by pro-
ducing a line to certain distance eSti-
mated by the eye. the same end is OBJ
tanned.
Probably the reason why stellar obser-
vations- have been SO little practiced at
sea heretofore is to be found in the
extreme inconvenience if not impossible
ity, OF identifying the observed stars by
means of star maps or by recognizing the
contiguration of the heavens. In stormy
weather with partly cloudy skies obscur-
ing the arrangement of the consultations,
the navigator was frequently prevented
from recognizing any of the few stars
showing at time when they might be
most indispensable to his safety.
The photographic Office has removed all
this uncertainty by providing in simple
tabular form the means for converting the
altitude and approximate bearing of any
star, which the navigator may measure
with MS seXtnat and compass into the
corresponding declination and right as
cension the coordinate by which they are
catalogued in the lists mentioned, giving
the names and magnitude of stars The
navigator is thus rendered independent of
any previous knowledge of the constella-
lions and the names of the stars he may
observe. and instead of being confined to
the employment in his observations of
those stars which he may be able to
recognize is enabled to indemnity any star
that is bright enough to observe.
The maps cover only the fixed stars
These stars are those bodies in the
heavens which always preserve the same
situation with respect to one another To
other worlds our sun is a fixed star: he
shines by his own light. and traverses
space accompanied by a planetary system
to which he communicates both light and
heat. So In similar manner, the Iati-
tude of fixed stars that deck the canopy
of heaven are so many self-luminous suns
each one Of them probably the center
Of a system Of planets-the dwelling
places OF sentient and intelligent exist
ences. The consultations are the groups
of fixed stars.
Among the various attempts made in
the middle ages to change the system of
star grouping. some of them are rather
amusing A few pious astronomers, scan
dalized at the employment of the names
of fabulous divinities and heroes, adopted
a spiritual sense. where that was possible
for instance, making Aries stand for
the ram sacrificed by Abraham in the
place Of Isaac. and for the venerable