El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-01

TH HE general character Of the even
ing skies shows a great change
since winter. The vast arch Of
tine Milky Way which spanned the re
NTH in January and February now lies
as If fallen above the western horizon
extending, a family luminous band
from a point Cue north, TO point a
little west OF south where II dips pc
mind the horizon The brightest portion
is in the nOTthW est involving tne con-
ssfeIIations Auriga. Perseus and Cassie
Deia. And with the Milky Way mas ue-
scended the great array OF 1lrsl IlaS-
nitude stars that cenIerS aDOuL CI4SLi'
including such bTillanrS as hlSel, AIoe-
baran. Sirius, BetelSeuX, PrOcyOn ana
Capells- All, however are visible, Dul
in another month most OF them VIII D5
gone. Venus, Saturn and Neptune, stun
The only planets i nthe evening sky, are
sinking westward with their stellar
4 s-reat change has come over the
central and eastern parts of the SKY,
the consultations now in the ascend
ant there being Of totally 0lIIerent
character from that of those winch
1hrOng around Orion 1t IS singular
fact that a real difference exists IN the
general nature of the stars IN the orion
neighborhOOd and that Of those In other
parts of the sky, so that astronomers
group certain stars reSentnS peculiar
spectrOscOpic insignia, under the name
of orion stars" In a broad sense they
appear to be younger than the otner
stars Whether the prevalence OF
white stars around Orion produces an
apprecia bic effect upon the eye or not,
it is certain that the considerations now
occupying the meridian and ADVANCING
I'D the eastern slope OF the heavens
make a less dazzling impression me
light of their stars seems more subdued
and less penetrating. They are the
advance guard Of the summer stars ana
their sOfUened rays accord with the
character Of the season, while the gem
like brilliance Of the winter stars re-
r=L- Ia If n
scapes spread beneath them April IS
notable. for one Of the annual show
ers' Of shooting stars. These particular
meteOrs are known as the Lyrlds be
cause they radiaue from the little con-
stellauOn Lyra, " hlch is remarkable Tor
the beauty OF its chief star vega, and
which may be seen rising IN the north
east This shower occurs during
about three evenings, from April 20
It would be well 70 wait a little later
than the hours for which the chart is
drawn g o. m for the first Of the
month; s D. m. 70 rthe middle and p
IN. for the end) in order that the radl-
ant point may be higher in the sky The
Lyrid meteorS are remarkable for the
dartinE sWiftness Of their flight The
observer must not expect to see many
OF them; If he catches sight of half a
dozen IN an hour ne may be well sans
fled If he traces their apparent paths
backward he viii find that they all
center about Lyra-
The Stars and Consultations.
The sickle Of Leo occupies the most
conspicuous position in the sky, being
close TO the meridian and high In the
south The brightest star in Leo is
Regulus at the bottom Of the handle
Of the sickle. Below Leo. stretches the
long Hydra Alphard marking the heart
Of this ina ginary sea serpent, whose
starry coils extend eastward TO the
horizon. running under the cOnstella-
tons Crater -COrvus and Virgo The
pure Wilderness of the star Spica in
Virgo commands the admiration Of all
behOlders. In this respect Spica will be
seen to differ nOuceably from Arcturus,
IN BOOtes, which lies far to the north
of Virgo Arcturus is generally regard
ed as the brightest star north of the
equator, although to some eyes Vega
seems to be its superior. Arcturus is
ing referred to by name in one of the
sublimest passages of the Book Of Job.
Its color, in contrast with that of Spica
and Vega, is yellowish, and when near
the horizon decidedly reddish West Of
Arcturus, and nearly overhead shines
the Great Dipper IN Ursa Major The
reader viii observe that the handle
of the DIpper curves in such a way
that If continued in an imaginary line
It would lead to Arcturus This is a
good fact TO keep mind in studying
the geography Of the heavens. The
circle Of the Northern Crown (COrOna)
is now becoming conspicuous northeast
Of BOOtes. Still lower in the northeast
Hercules is rising, and beyond that
sparkles the brilliant Vega
The Great DracO.
Above Vega is the head Of the great