El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-01
AT PM APR. :: 500 Pm. APR IS, 700 PM. APR 80

ago. It is believed to have been much
brighter then than it is today The OBJ
server armed with a good opera glass or
field glass will be interested in the clusters
in Cancer, Coma Berenices and Perseus,
while those who possess telescopes Will find
great pleasure In examining some OF the
beautiful double stars now well placed for
observation
Among these IS the Generated binary Cas-
tor in Gemlni. A three inch telescope with
a magnifying power OF 100 diameters viii
give a fine view Of Castor, throwing the two
stars composing It sufficiently VIDE apart
to show the difference In their magnitudes.
Their actual distance apart IS six seconds of
arc. The larger star f. Of rather less than
the second magnitude. and the smaller 81
near the third magnitude; the two stars ara
slowly revolving around one another in a
period Of 700 years Another celebrated
binary star is Gamma Virgins (the first
star west Of Spica in Virgo as represented
in the chart). The two components OF this
star are also about six seconds Of arc apart.
They are both nearly Of the third magni-
tacle IN the telescope. Like the two stars
IN Castor they are In mutual revolution, the
period being something less than 200 years
Attention was called in March to the
beautiful double 1liZar in the middle Of the
handle OF the Great Dipper. Leo also con-
tains a very fine double star. but one re-
curing a rather higher telescope power "a
be well seen. Still first rate three inch
telescope. using its highest power should
show e. Il IS the star Gamma LeOnis, the
second one above Regulus in the sickle.
Like Mizar It's cOmponents show contrasted
cOlors. the larger one Of the second magni-
tude being yellow and the smaller. or the
fourth magnitude, green the distance apart
IS not much more than three and half
seconds Of arc.
The Planets for April.
Mercury viii not be visible until the latter
part OF the month, when Il will be found
in the western evening sky, low on the hori-
zon-
Venus will continue to rise higher in the
western evening sky until the 24th, when
it viii reach its greatest elongation east oi
the sur. About one-hat OF Us surface VIII
then be visible, and its brilliancy will be
increasing.
Mars is now receding from the earth. but
IS still well placed for evening observa ton
near the Sickle in Leo.
Jupiter being in conjunction with the sun
Cbehind it) on April ! VIII not be visible,
but YIN reappear in The the easter eastern morning
Saturn will continue well placed for OBJ
FervatiOn in Gemini in the western evening
sky throughout the month
Uranus will be found In Capricornus in
the eastern morning sky
Neptune is still in the evening sky IN Can
Ger and viii be on the meridian about 1880
Planetary CONFORMATION for April.
(These figures are given in Greenwich
Mean time Subtract hrs 80 Minis. for FL
April l. $500 p. m. Jupiter and sun IN
conjunction
conjunction. Mercury south degrees, 50
April .. 7:2s p. m. Jupiter and moon IN
conjunction Jupiter south degrees II
min.
April g. 500 a. m. Mercury and Jupiter
in conjunction. Mercury south - min.
April 9. 5.46 p. m. Saturn and moon IN
conjunction. Saturn south degrees "a
min.
April II. 1900 a. m. Neptune stationary.
April II. 9:27 a. m. Neptune and moon
IN conjunction.
April IL. 800 .. IN. Mars and moon IN
conjunction. Mars north degrees 81 min.
April IA. $500 p. m. Mercury at superior