El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-06-27


siOnal astronomer, the splendid
| Il constellation Ursa Major. the
| Big Bear, more commonly known as
the dipper," is a most convenient guide
/ for locating the CONSULTATIONS and the
first magnitude stars in the northern
hemisphere. II is the one constellation
I that all are familiar with Its seven
! beautiful stars stand out in the most
| striking manner and no imagination IS
required to see that they present a
T clearly defined "Cipper" in their torma-
tion. As it is in view every night from
latitude 40 north, il affords most con-
venient key 10 the stellar worlds
The two stars in the bowl, as shown
on the map, are famous as the point
ers'' as a line drawn through them
points to the north star, the first bright
star that the line intersects, which IS
the end star in the handle Of the Lit
tie Dipper. BY following the curve OF
the handle OF the Dipper, the eye Is led
to the beautiful first magnitude star.
Arcturus, and still following this curved
line, we come 10 another first magni-
tude-brilliant. Spica- As first step
for intelligent observation Of the heaV-
ems nothing better can be offered than
a careful study Of the relation Of the
Dipper TO the surrounding stars and
consultations
The second star in the handle OF the
Dipper. Mizar, is a very pretty double,
and can be easily separated with two
inch objective and 5O-pOWer eyeplece-
Nearest Stars-StelIar Distances.
Just below the bowl Of the Dipper is
a star of about the seventh magnitude,
= telescope star, which is the nearest
known star in the northern hemisphe ere
Il Is 81 light years distant II posluon
is right ascension II hrs. > min decli-
nation north, 4 degrees, > min
a light year is based on the velocity
Of light, which is established at 1S6, $50
miles per second, and is equal 10
5i0Ou.00O,OlU miles
The nearest known star, that IS 10
the unaided vision, in the northern
hemisphere, is Sirius, which is 81 light
years distant. 81 Cysni was long be-
ueyed 10 be the nearest northern star.
and is famous as the first star whose
distance was ever measured It is a
double. star of about the 9Th magnitude I
and isN0-5 light years distant
The nearest star TO the earth is (a) !
CentaurUs, in the southern hemisphere
It is a first magnitude star and is - /
light years distant
The actual distance Of not more than
so stars can be said to have been rea-
sOnably eSta blished- and as to their sizes 1
We know but little Their distance is /
so vast that no stellar disc subtends an /
appreCiable angle All estimates as TO 4
their sizes are based on their light Civ /
ing power, which shows that many OF 4
them are hundreds Of times larger than I
our sun
The Planets For July.
Mercury will not be visible during ]
July, being too near the sun. 1t viii |
be at aphelion, that is its greatest dis
lance from the sun, on July 2 Venus 4
viii continue to be an object Of superb 4
interest in the western evening sky
this month, and by the last Of the
month Will be about 40 degrees east OF /
the sun, and at that time viii set about
3 p. N.
Mars IS in Leo. near ReguIus, on the
first, and at the close OF the month will
enter Virgo. 1t is receding from the
earth.
Jupiter will come into the evening
sky about 10 p. m the first Of the |
month. It is at the extreme easterIy
end OF Caprlcornus and is well placed
for observation. There will be an in
terestingly close conjunction Of Jupiter I
and the moon at 2-O6 a. m on July 10, I
Jupiter being only 30 minutes north. /
Uranus Is also in the same constellation.
Neptune is getting too near the sun at
this time to be well seen.
The earth is at its greatest distance
from the sun on July ?, at 7 p. nat
aphelion-
Planetary COnfIguration.
July ?, Z a m, Mercury stationary.
July ?, p. m, earth in aphelion.
July 3, a. m. Mercury in apheliOn.
July 8, 3 a m, Mercury and Neptune
In conjunction Mercury south 3 de-
grees p minutes.
July 9, 4:19 a. m, Uranus and moon In
conjunction; Uranus north 1 degree A
minutes.
July 10. 1906 a. m. Jupiter and moon
n conjunction; Jupiter north % MINI
July IS, Il a. m, Mercury and sun at
Inferior conjunction.
July 20, 7:35 a n, Saturn and moon