El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-29

bull, with the ''V7' shaped Hyades. and
I the glittering group Of the Pleiedes
and the northeast, made more than
] usually splendid by the presence OF
/ Saturn, is Gemini, with its twin stars
] Castor and PolluX- Southeast of CENT
/ NJ Is the somewhat lone looking bright
I star, Procyon. in CAMS Minor a star
which, like AlgOl, has a dark compan-
] ion. but not one that causes ecliDses:
and then further north. between CAMS
MINOR ana the feet OF Orion. blazes the
imperial Sirius, in CAMS Major. East
OF Gemini is the little zodiacal constel-
lation of Cancer, the crab, which might
be entirely overlooked but for the Curl
Gus glimmering of the celebrated Bee
with their lntermingled rays produce a
curious effect upon the eve. Still
further east is the distinct sickle
SNAPPED figure marking the head and
breast Of Leo the lion, whose chief
star, Regulus, lies almost exactly upon
the ecliptic. Mars, now at opposition
IS flneIy IN view near the sickle" To
the southwest the long. struggling
constellation Hydra is seen with no
very large stars, although Alphard at
tracts the eye, because it has no rival
near The Great Dipper," in Ursa
Major, is seen in the northeast with
the bowl uppermOst.
Jupiter and Venus
Jupiter and Venus are beautifully In
view in the early evening sky in the
west
At this time Of the year the second
brightest star in the sky. Canopus in
Argo, is visible just above the southern
horizon Tor observers not farther north
tnan Charleston, $. c. Campus is a
star Of extraordinary brilliance. and
while its magnitude to our eyes is less
than that Of Sirius. its real magnitude
IS known to be immensely. greater. In
truth there is reason to think that
campus may have no superior in the
whole universe. The best estimates 7
indicate that il exceeds the sun not less
afaHn ra1 -T~rTn#
It's enormous distance alone causes II
Sirius
As the sun has now been for several /
weeks on its return from its farthest |
decliI alton south of the equator. the /
days viii be found to be noticeably
lengthening-
The Planets for February.
Mercury viii be at inferior conjunc-
ton with the sun on February 5, and |
consequently SO near the sun that il I
VIII not be visible. At the last of the |
month II VIII be near its greatest west
ern eIOngation. and will be visible in the
eastern morning sky. rising about an
hour and half before the sun.
Venus VIII be beautifully in view in
the western evening sky this month.
On February Il Venus and Jupiter will
De IN conjunction at 5 a. m. and will be
practically so in the early evening Dre-
sentng beautiful sight in the west
ern evening sky, and offer an excellent
opportunity to compare their brilliancy-
enuS VIA be abOVe-nOrth. of Jupiter
p minutes. about the diameter of the (
noon Venus Is 1880 miles in diameter
ana Jupiter $4,000 miles. but it far out
shines its Joyian rival because il is
80 much nearer the sun, Venus being
81 100000 miles distant and Jupiter
iSS,Oo0,000 miles from our great lumi-
nary
Mars Near the Earth.
Mars will be at its nearest point 10
he earth, at this opposition. on Feb
-uary 10 at a m It viii then be
about 100000 miles away. and while
interestingly in view is not seen. of
course, as well as when at the point of
Is nearest approach. which is about
sS.0U9-O0O miles It rises before sunset
and VIII be well placed for observation
near Regulus. in Leo. II viii be much
brighter than Regulus and can be east
y distinguished from that fact and its
-uddy color
Jupiter viii be in view in the early
evening. but viii drop below the west
I'm horizon about 9 p m on the first
ND on the 23d viii be in conjunction I
WITH the sun and will soon disappear.
saturn will be well placed for OBJ
serVation this month, being on the
meridian about 9 p. m in Gemini.