The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-03-01
STARS VISIBLE FROM
SOUTH FLORIDA

(By Katharine DOORS Sharp)

named Hesperus, N honor of the
evening star. The flower is one of
the mustard family, white with
pink and lavender shadings; and,
as the evening draws on, an ex-
quisite odof.
Canopus is one Of the stars of
the southern hem sphere, which
may be viewed early in the spring
near the southern horizon. 1t may
be found on the border of the con-
stellation Argo. OF Campus lit
tie is known. While slightly less
brilliant than Sirius, it is much far
Their away and of immense, un-
measured size and distance.
The Southern Cross may be seen
from Miami iate in the month of
May. Gamma Crucis, the top star,
Delta Crucis to the right, Zeta
Cruc.s left, and Alpha Crucis the
lower end of the cross. Usually
the mists are too dense along the
horizon to admit a view of this
constellation in the evening, but at
10 o'clock, if the city lights do pot
interfere, better luck may be ex-
pected.
Alpha Crucis is a frst-magnitude
star, and is of an Orange-colored
light. Delta Cruc;s is somewhat
tilted above the level of the OPP
posite arm. This constellation IS
reputed to be the one which the
wise men followed at the birth of
Christ. 1t is possible that one of
the stars may have been extreme
ly bril- liant at that time, diminish
ing quickly. An instance of this
kind occurred in recent years, but
the stars continuance was very
brief.
The news Of a new star was very
exciting, as no mention of it had
been seen in any of the periodicals
coming under notice. Il led, in
time, to making a valuable ac-
quaintance with Doctor Todd and
his wife, of Coconut Grove, at
their beautiful hame, "Matsuba. "
Doctor Todd is a retired profess
sor of Astronomy of Amherst
College, and the author of works
on Astronomy. Together with his
wife he is the author IF -Four
teen Weeks in Astronomy"
"Stars and 'escopes.'
Mrs. Todd, who is also an able
astronomer, has written several
works on that science: "Total
Eelipses of the Sun" Corona and
Coronet, edited the poems of
Emily Dickinson, three volumes.
and two volumes of her letters.
She has also edited "a Cycle of
Sonnets.
As a parlor lecturer she gives
addresses on Japan" "The Phil
ipp.nes," east Sumatra," "Singa-
PORE" "Peru," etc.
Mrs. Todd has a belief in the
canals of Mars, her vision having
served to good purpose in detect
ing them.
Doctor Todd had heard nothing
of new star, but he SAID news
of discovery in regard to a we'll
known star had recently thrilled
the students of Astronomy.
Thirty or over years ago Mr..
M;ehaelson, professor of Physics
in Chicago University, invented the
:nterferometer, IAN instrument
for measuring small movements,
distances, displacements, by means
of the interference of two beams
of light" / am using the langu-
age of the dictionary.
This instrument had never been
used for astronomical calculation
until the Einstein theory of rela-
tivity had suggested the expert
ment. Betelguese, or Alpho Orionis
in the right shoulder of the con-
steilation Orion, owing to its dis
lance and position had never been
satisfactorily measured or studied.
But now, with the new aid of the
interferometer, it has been cal
culated that the diameter of Betel-
guese is 2I8,000,000 miles.
Sirius, hitherto considered the
largest star in the heavens and,
possibly, the center of the uni
verse, must give place to one of
inferior appearance to the casual
beholder.