Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-28
THE STARRY SKIES IN MARCH


We can indicate the position of only
one of the planets on figure l and that
one is Neptune, which is not visible to
the naked eye. However, there are
many bright stars visible. The bright
est of these and the brightest of all
stars is Sirius, at A. 1t is called the
dog star. because it is in the constella-
ton CAMS Major, which means the
larger dog When this star is so close
to the sun that it cannot be seen at
any time of the night we have the
period known as dog days. Above
CAMS Major is CAMS Minor, The
smaller dog, with it's very bright star,
I'rocyon, at Il. Procyon comes lrum
the combination of the Greek words
pro, meaning before, and kuon, mean
ing dog; that is, the name means the
leading dog. 1t rises before Sirius.
Proctor named the constellation Felis,
meaning the cat. but the name has
never been in common use. Familiar
as has been the cat at all times, 1t
strikes us as curious that there is no
constellation of that name. Lelands, in
1903, made constellation FellS. 1t
was in the vicinity of c. This constel-
latlon, however, was recognized by
few and Is never used at present. Be.
side the two dogs mentioned above
there are two in the constellation
Canes Venatici, which means the
hunting dogs. This is under the handle
of the big dipper in Ursa Major.
Castor and POlluX.
Above Procyon at ID and l. are the
twin stars Castor and PolluX. They
are in constellation Gemini, which
means twins. The two stars have been
associated as a pair from remote an
tiquity. However. not always, as Cas-
tor and PolluX. Sometimes it has been
Apollo and Hercules, David and iona
than, RomuluS and Remus, and even
Adam and Eve. 1t is curious fact
that the ancients declared Castor to
he the brighter, whereas PolluX is now
surely the brighter. Naturally every
one Identifies the constellation Gemini
10y means of these two stars, often
the other stars of the constellation
are ignored. In figure > we show the
constellation on large scale. with the
stars Joined by lines in different ways.
In the left-hand part of the figure we
lind that we can form a good capital
letter Il from the stars, with another
line of stars parallel to the bottom of
the Il. In the right hand side of the
form a figure which Prof Howe sug-
end view of an upright piano. the star
at + representing the keyboard and
the star at G the pedals.
The star in the middle of the bottom
line of the Il is we'll known and typi-
cal variable star, Zeta Geminorum. Its
magnitude varies from 81 to Al and
back in 10.2 days. The star farthest
to the right of those shown is very
close to the point known as the Sum
mer Solstice. The sun is at that point
June p. The star nearest to this one
is another variable star. 1t varies IT.
regularly between magnitudeS 3.3 and
~ in 232 days. 1t was the custom of
the Romans to swear by the twins,
and just as they might use the express
sion by Jove" they used the one "by
Gemini," which has come down to us
in the common form "by jimmy"
Other bright stars are ArcturuS, at
II; Rigel, at j; Betelgeuse, at K; Aide
baran, at NJ; Capella, at y. and Regu-
lus, at p.
Mercury and Venus
Mercury can be seen very low in the
west soon after sunset for a few days
about March A. On March IA it sets
at 1876 pm. The planet is brighter at
this time than any star in the sky eX-
cept Sirius, at A, in the south. There
are other occasions in other vnars
when Mercury is in more favorable
situation. This is one of three occa-
sions this year when Mercury can be
seen in the early evening. The others
are no more favorable.
Venus is now at it's best as a morn
ing star. This planet is the most brill
liant of the heavenly bodies excepting
the sun and moon. 1t rises at 4:45 am.
March / and at $50 am. March 81. 1t
is at its brightest as a morning star
on March Ia. Near Venus is the next
most brilliant planet, Jupiter. These
two very brilliant planets shining in
the southeastern sky in the early
morning will make a pretty sight.
Jupiter rises at 5:27 am. March I and
at 3:48 am. March 81. AS may be
noted, Jupiter rises after Venus March
l, but before Venus March 81. This
means that the planets pass during
the month. They pass March 90. At
that time Venus is five degrees north
of Jupiter. During the month the