El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-11-07
PATH OF TRANSIT OF MERCURY
/ ACROSS SUNS DISC, now 1914
NOVEMBER EVENING SKIES.
By GARRETT p. SERVISS.

4 LAIOST directly north Of the high
n est star in Perseus, and forming
L n an angle with that star and the
star in Andromeda's foot, is the cele-
brated variable Algol in the little con-
stellation representing the head of
Medusa, the gorgon. This star is, in
many ways, the most remarkable in the
heavens. Every two days, 20 hours and
40 minutes 70 falls to a minimum, hay
ing in the course of three or four hours
lost tWO-thirds or quarters of its
light. Then ii Immediately begins to
brighten again. and in two or three
hours once more shines with the brill
lance of a second ma gnitude star. The
cause OF these rapid periodic changes
is believed to be the existence of
huge dark mass, either an eXtinguished
star, or a dense meteoric swarm, cir
cling close around AlEol, ana eclipsing
it at regular intervals.
Another remarkable variable star
commands attention this month-Nira,
the Wonderful" in the constellation
Cetus. Its maximum period is irregu-
lar. on the average 3Sl days elapse
from one maximum to the next. but the
maximum may come a fortnight ahead
of time or a fortnight behind. The
brightness Of the star is also irregular,
exceeding the second magnitude at
times. But generally it is only of the
fourth magnitude when at maximum.
At minimum it disappears entirely for
the naked eve. sinking to the eighth or
ninth magnitude. Tt is probable that
the variability OF Mira arises from an
entirely different cause than that con-
Cerned i'm the case of Algol. Instead
OF being due to eclfDses. the varf.. lions
OF Mira s. light no doubt originate from
something in the constitution Of the
star itself
November is the great month for
meJeors, two famous showers falling
1r11r &c g.
the shower of the LeOnids, so called
because the meteOrs radiate from the
head Of the lion in the constellation
Leo They are due on the 14th or 18th,
ana TO see them one must get up in
the early morning hours, as Leo does
not rise before midnight.
Ihese meteors were wonderfully
numerous in 1888 and 1866 but since
lhen tney have not been seen in such
vast numbers It lEcs been shown that
the planets Jupiter and Saturn have
uraWn most OF them aside from the
orbit which they formerly pursued
Inc other meteor shower is that Of
lhe AndrOmedes, due on the night of
the I'D They radiaUe from the consteI-
Iatlon Andromeda, and are associated
WIN Blela comet which disappeared
IN the first half of the 18th century.
The reader will observe that the
great array Of consultations which
makes the winter sky so magnificent
is now beginning to appear. Near the
eastern horizon Orion is just rising:
ABOVE him is Taurus, and still higher
the Pleiades In the northeast below
Perseus glitters the brilliant CaDelIa
IN the constellation Auriga. The Great I
Dipper is under the pole in the north
ana vega scinullates in the northwest.
d worthy rival Of CaDella in the north /
Saturn's Rings.
recent studies Of these rings have
thrown some light upon their proba bic |
constitution 1t has been known that /
lhey are not solid bodies. but. instead /
are composed Of innUmerabIe particles 1
revolving Independently. vet almost 1
IN contact with one another around
me planet like flOcks of minute moons
Ger tam phenomena which they have I
presented when seen exactly edgevise
nave led TO the conclusion that thew are 4
suDJec- TO the action Of tidal forces
wnleh may eventually dissipate them
senulng some down upon the planet /
ana others out beyond their present
units where they may be aggregated /
INTO larger bodies, thus forming true
sdleillles or moons. The present known
NUMBER OF Sarurn's moons. all Situated
Deyonu the outer border Of the rinrTe
IS ~ OF these four or five can easiIy
ne seen with telescopes. and one az /
lHSIn, named Titan, has diameter con- /
~ ILeLdDly exceeding that of the planet 1
80 - CuIE- another, Japetus. is of about \
~ same size as our moon. The ex- /
~ enc e, diameter Of the rings Of saturn !
10 1oe'UUo miles, but their thickness /