Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-04-02

The spring months OF this year
will present particularly favorable
opportunities for the observation of
the two great planets of the suns
family, Jupiter and Saturn. The
former is just climbing over the
eastern horizon at map time, but Will
improve its position steadily for
some months. The ringed planet is
already in good position for observa-
ton near the first-magnitude star
Spica in the constellation of Virgo,
the Virgin. which represents the
Goddess of Plenty. Ceres. On the
seventh Saturn, will be in opposition
to the sun, /. e.. opposite the sun in
the heavens and its brightness will
be stellar magnitude one-half.
Spica and Saturn can easily be
told apart by the fact that the plan
cts do not twinkle, except, perhaps,
when the atmosphere is particularly
unsteady.
Neptune, the outpost of the plan
etary system, Is close to h meridian
at map time in the constellation of
Cancer, but as its stellar magnitude
is only about seven and seven-tenths
it is beyond the reach of the I'M
aided eye. Even in the largest in
struments its observation is very diff
icult and unsatisfactory. This is
due, of course, to its enormous dis
lance from the sun-about $780,
O00, 900 miles.
Mars, the rudy, is setting in the
west at map time and Is not very
well placed for observation. Venus
continues it's position as morning
star.
The Lion Consultations
There are two Lion consultations
in the heavens, Leo and Leo Minor.
Leo is a very famous group, contain
ing the first magnitude star Regulus,
the royal star; Denebola and the
sub-group, known as the sickle.
These are shown on the map, Regu-
lus and the Sickle practically on n
meridian. Just north of the Sickle
is the rather Insignificant constella-
ton of the lesser sign. This is NOT
one of the ancient classic constella-
lions, but was named as a separate
group as late as 1900. Leo, tselr
however, is one Of the Oldest group
and represents the lion killed by the
Greek hero. Hercules, in n of the
famous tasks set him, according TO
the NEUROLOGICAL tale.
Reeulus was much venerated by
the ancients because it practically
marked the position of the sun at
the hottest part of the year. Today
this is no longer true, as the position
of the euuinoxes and solstices has
shifted in the heavens. owing TO the
phenomenon known to astronomers
as the procession of h equinoxes
Reg1llus marks the handle of the
sickle. and the blade stretches up
ward toward the zenith, concave to-
ward the west. The stars that make
I'D this sub-group r not very
bright but unique figure is easily
recognized. Astrologers assigned to
Leo the important role of governing
the heart.
Denebola is a star with a pro-
nounced blush tinge and although
not of particular brightness, we may
Judge, from the way the ancients
speak of it, that it was at one tinle
far brighter. This is only conjec-
ture. We do know that it is ap-
preaching the Earth at a rate OF
twelve miles a second, and is at
present thirty-three light-yeafs
way from us. Intrinsically. Dene-
boJa is ten times as great a star as
our sun.
Just to the north OF Reguius is
Gamma Leonis,a we'll known double
star: even a small telescope viii
show that what is apparently n
single star is composed of two star
units of different colors.
Just east of the Lion is Virgo. The
lose position of these two groups in
the heavens gave rise to the theory
that the Egyptian Sphinx was meant
to represent the head of this female
goddess on the body Of the neigh
boring Lion. Since the positions OF
the pyramids and the directions OF
certain chambers within them are
certainly connected with astronomic
phenomena, this theory does not
seem so very improbable. Astro-
nomic things played a very great