El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-30

the Great Square of Pegasus is common
to the two consultations Pegasus and
AndrOmeda- In reality, however, II
should be assigned to AndToneda
alone, and 1t is counted for Pegasus
simply because it serves to complete
the figure of the Square" Alpheratz
is represented in the old constellation
figures such as those drawn by the
Durer, for Flamsteed'S Celestial At
las" as shining in the forehead OF An
dromeda. 1t is a star of the second
magnitude. Two other stars of the
same magnitude form a line with it,
stretching downward toward the horl-
Zon. the first of these in AEdCI media s
girdle and the second in her tout
Between AndrOmeda and the pole IS
Cassiopeia. and below her feet in the
northeast appears Perseus. The SSery
of these constitutions IS one CT the
most interesting instances OF the con-
nectiOn between ancient mythology ana
the imaginary figures in the starry
heavens. AndrOmeda represents the
beautiful daughter of Casslopela, queen
of Ethiopia, who was chained TO rock
by the seaside to be deV0ured Dy a sea
monster as a punishment for for her
mother CaSSiopela, who mad DOaSted
herself fairer than the sea nymphs- Ac-
cOrding to the fable she was rescued
by the hero PerSeuS who trOze the sea
monster into stone by presenting pc
fore its eyes the head OF the snake
tressed Gorgon, which he had cut Off
4 Curious Fact.
curious fact in connection with this
legend is that attached, as it were, to
the constellation Peseus is small
group of stars comprising one Of the
most wonderful objects in the heavens
AlgOI this star, whose position is clear
" indicated on the chart. varies. IN a
period of less than three days to Sucn d
degree that it is at certain PERIODS sew
eraI times brighter than at others Inc
changes take place in regular order,
giving to the star the look, as has Deen
somewhat fancifully said, of "a slowly
Winking eye" The word 'AlSol' In
Arabic means THE Demon" and IT is
at least a curious coincidence that so
strange an object should be attached 10
the constellation Perseus, when we re-
call the story of thai constellation as
The sun enters the zodiacal sign Lii
bra, and the astronomical autumn be-
gins at 1915 o'clock on the morning OF
the 23d. This is called the autumnal
equinox and the position of the sun
at this epoch is indicated on the chart
by the crossing OF the lines of the
equator and the ecliptic at the figures
$50. The ecliptic being the apparent
path of the sun through the heavens,
the reader viii notice that after pass
ing the atumnal equinox his course VIII
lie constantly below or south OF the
equator, until he returns into the
at the crossing point on the opposite
side of the chart known as the Vernal
equinox. When the sun is ct either of
the two equinOXes day and night are
of equal length all over the world As
he descends south of the equator the
nj ht begins to exceed the day in
length in the northern hemisphere.
The Planets for September.
Mercury will be too close to the sun
throughout the month for observation.
Venus is still q morning star rising
at a m. on the first, at $3.50 a. m. on
the 10Th, and at 4 a. m. on the SOtn-
Mars is only 5 degrees east of Saturn
IN Taurus on the first and both planets
viii rise about midnight on that date.
By the last of the month Mars viii
have moved about II degrees eastward
and will then rise about II p. m. and
saturn an hour earlier, both planets
having passed into the evening sky.
Jupiter is still the most striking OBJ
lect IN the evening sky and advan-
tage should be taken of this very IA
Vorable opportunity by all having tele-
scopes to study this giant planet and
its most ante sting gruup Of satellites
Uranus is well placed for observa-
ton this month in CapricOrnus. and at
tentiOn is called to the article under
the heading Uranus in which detailed
directions arc given for locating it. 1t
is due south about 10 D. m. on the first;
9 p. m. on the 18th, and s D. m. on the
Goth.
Neptune is still a morning star in
Gemini.
Total Eclipse of the Moon.
There will be a total eclipse of the