Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-01
THE STARRY SKIES IN AUGUST
- PRnF. SAMUEL O. BARTON

by PROF. SAMUEL q. BARTON
!. OF the University of Pennsylvania.
Vega. the fourth star in the whole
heavens in order of brightness and
the second brightest visible here. is
aesF near the zenith in the early eve.
ming at A, Fig. /. The planet Jupiter,
IN the southeast, however, Is much
Brighter. Other bright stars to be
seen in order of decreasing brightness
are. Arcturus at B, the planet Saturn
III the position marked, Altar at g,
Spica at ID, Antares at Z and Deneo
al F,
AS we have mentioned before, we
know that the sun, carrying the earth
and the other planets with 1t, is NOV
ing toward the point in the constella-
ton Hercules marked G with a veioc-
ity of IL miles a second. This is the
motion with respect to the great sys-
tenn of stars to which the sun belongs.
IT does not include any motion which
the system of stars may have as a
whole. There are many who believe
Inat our system of stars constitute
spiral nebula The spiral nebulae are
found to be moving with great veloc-
tiles with respect to us, and 1t may
later be possible to determine the
velocity of our star system with re-
It cannot be done satisfactorily at
present. Followers of Einstein be-
lieve that we will forever be unable to
state our motion in any other way
than this; that is, relatively.
Einstein's Theory Contradicted.
Experiments have been made re-
Gently on Mount Wilson by Prof. Day
ton Miller TO determine, IL possible,
the velocity of the earth with respect
to the ether of space. His results
show that the sun and planets are
moving toward the point in Draco
marked H with velocity of at least
125 miles a second. This may be
called an absolute motion. These re.
suits contradict Elnsteins theory of
relatively, as does other evidence,
leaving us still in doubt as to its
truth or falsity. We must await fur
Their evidence or explanation of the
contradictions in the evidence now
existing.
Ophiuchus and Serpens.
The large constellation Ophiuchus
and the long constellation Serpens
are now at their best in the south.
The name Ophiuchus means serpent.
holder. These consultations are in
separately connected. As may be seen
from an inspection of the Hydrologic
al figures shown in Fig. q. the man,
Ophiuchus, holds the serpent fSerpensl
in his hands. The constellation Ser
pens is divided into two distinct parts,
one to the east and one to the west of
Ophiuchus. They are distinguished
sometimes as Serpens Caput and Ser
pens Cauda; that is. head and tail.
Eerpens is the only constellation
which has two distinct parts. The
serpent. as may be seen, crosses the
body of Ophiuchus. but each star
must be considered as belonging either
to Ophiuchus or Serpens
The two stars in the right hand of
Ophiuchus belong in that constella-
ton and make a good starting place
in tracing out the stars of each con-
stellation. These two stars are close
to each other and of nearly equal
brightness and attract the attention
when seen in the sky for these rea.
sons. The stars to the right of them
are in Serpens. The head of Serpens
contains three stars, which form an
equalsided triangle. 1t lies just south
of the semi-circle in Corona.
There are no very bright stars In
either constellation, but they have
some importance because of their
large area. Ophiuchus is a constella-
ton in which planets may be found,
for the ecliptic passes through 1t. 1t
is not one of the IL consultations of
the zodiac, but it is the only other
one crossed by the ecliptic.
The nearest star known Is Alpha
Centauri a star not visible here. 1t
is q system of three stars. The next
nearest star known, commonly known
as Barnard's star, is in Ophiuchus in
the position of the cross. 1t is much
too faint to be seen with the naked
eye. It's distance is GO light years,
which is half as far again as the near
est star. This star moves across the
sky faster than any other star. 1t
moves a degree in $50 years.
Mercury, Mars and Venus.
The planet Mercury may be seen in
the. morning twilight for a few days
about August % in the east. On Au-
gust 25 it rises at 1852 am. Saturn
is now due south at 1892 pm. August
/: that is before darkness and hence
is on the wane as an evening star.
It sets at 1138 pm. August ! and at
9:43 pm. August 81. It is in the con-
steIlation Libra and forms a nearly
equal-sided triangle with the brightest
two stars of Libra. Jupiter is nearest
to as and brightest this month. 1t is
due south at midnight August II. 1t
is in the constellation Capricornus, as
it has been all this year. 1t rises at
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