The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-08
Today's Science
BY DAVID DIETZ

VOW &c the best time of the year to get &C
~ ouainted with two famous star clusters II you
do not know them already the PleiaoeS ana tne ne
Hvades Both will be found in the constellation Oh
Taur1ls the bull which with mighty ORION consul
tutes the chief glory of the night skies OF winter
Both are high in the skies these nights. ORION
to the south Taurus slightly higher IN the SKY ana
little more to the east In ancient nytuol o,
Orion is the mighty hunter who with appraised CLUB
rllshes to meet the charging bull.
orion is quickly identified by the diagonal row
If three stars which form the hunters belt, the
three stars below which form his sword, and the
bright star above the belt, Betegeuse, wnch locates
his shoulder. Ns So. avn, :,
clined 70 the left compose the Hyades. The W Is
easily found since it begins with prght star,
Aldebaran the brightest star in the constellation OF
Taurus The Hyades outline the face OF the pun'
Aldebaran constituting his right eye
The Pleiades will be found to the right OF the
Hyades and little higher in the sky. Iney are
located approximately in the bulls shoulder. six
fairly bright stars hudded together in circle ABOUT
twice the diameter of the full moon. constitutes the
PleiadeS Their arrangement is much like NINA
ture CODY Of the Big Dpper and Tor this reason the
group is sometimes although quite wrongly called
the Little Dpper.
From earliest times. these two groups of stars,
particularly the PeiadeS have held the attention OF
mankind. They are still OF the utmost interest 70
astronomers but for different reasons Astronomers
are interested in them because OF the many I'M
portant problems connected with the subject OF star
clusters
interest as have the Peiades. This little sparkling
shimmering group of stars has exerted fascination
for the peoples of all lands and times They played
an important part in most Of the primitive religious
cults
NEARTHA EVANS MARTIN. wel-known as
wi Economical writer. says of them: The magic
of their ouivering misty light has always made
strong appeal 10 men of imagination. Ministries
and poets OF the early days sang OF their beWltch-
ment and beauty, and many of the great poets from
Homer and the author Of Job down TO Tennyson
and the men of our own day have had their fancy
Ivened by them and in one form or another have
celebrated their sweetness and mystery and charm.
II you look closely at the Pleiades however, you
will notice one or more faint stars associated with
them. Just how many you can see is a test OF your
sight Some astronomers say it is also test OF your
imagination and your ability to stick to the truth
AT any rate. some persons say that they can see
four five such faint stars pair OF opera glasses
Will reveal more and with good pair OF prism
binoculars the number becomes still greater.
small telescope will reveal fifty or more stars
in the group and a large telescope reveals several
hundred The telescope also reveals that the stars
intertwined with great amount OF hay. cloudy,
nebuous material.
Photographs Of the region of the Pleiades taken
with modern telescopes reveal more than 1000 stars
in this region. The great majority Of these how
ever, merely the background Of faint stars
against which the cluster of the Pleiades them
selves Is seen.