The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-18
Today S Science
by DAVID DIETZ-

ORION the mighty hunter who dominated the
~ skies all winter. says good-by to earthly star
gazers this month Even now he shines so low in
the Western sky that you not see him unless you
have unobStructed view of the horizon.
The bright star. Rigel, which marks the foot Of
the giant. almost touches the horizon while Betel-
geuse, the fiery star in his shoulder is not much
higher. BY 9 o'clock the whole constellation has
sunk out of view.
Equally low in the sky are Taurus the celestial
bull. and CAMS Major. of the hunters dogs.
Only little higher in the sky is his other dog,
CAMS Minor. BY p. m. Taurus has disappeared.
taking along the Peiades the Hyades and the bright
star Adebaran Sirius brightest star of the heavens
in the constellation of CAMS Major, likewise dis
appears.
So now it is time to forget the consultations of
winter and learn the consultations of spring and
summer. Look to the northeast at p m. There, so
low that ii almost touches the horizon Vega beau
tful bright white star Of the constellation of Lyra.
TUE east and higher in the sky than Bega shines
II Arcturus. part of the constellation of Bootes In
the southeast and a little lower than Arcturus is
Spica. the beautiful clear white of the constea
ton Of Virgo the virgin.
Many star gazerS consider Spica the queen star
of the spring sky because of the exceptional purity
Of her light. 1t is interesting to compare these three
starS-Vega, ArcturuS and Splca. To choose between
them Is as difficult a task that of Paris who had
to decide between the beauty of the three goddeSses
Juno Minerva and Venus.
AS the night progresses and the starry skies re-
volye about the North Pole, the three mount higher
and higher into the sky.
The planets present an interesting view this
month. Beautiful Venus is low in the western sky,
in the constellation of Taurus. not far from the
PleiadeS She is sinking lower the west each night
and so sets a little earlier each night. BY the end
OF the month. she will disappear by g.
Mars. beautiful red in color is near Spica.
Jupiter. white in color. rises in the East about
and remains in view throughout the of the night
MEANWHILE. professional astronomers continue
WI to be most interested in Nova Herculis the new
star that flashed into view last December.
Nova Herculis is TO be found in the northeast be-
tween the constellation Of Hercules and the head Of
Draco. This puts it only little above the bright
star Vega.
This star. readers will recall. suddenly flashed
into great brillianCe early last December A star
which unoergoeS so great an increase is known TO
astronomers as nova, which is the Latin word for
new. Ordinarily such star shortly after its new
brllance. begins TO decline and continues to so
until It has again faded from view.
But Nova Herculis has refused to run true to
form First 1t declined. then it grew bright again It
continued for several months to fuctuate back and
forth 10 the great amazement Of astronomers
Now the increase in brilliance is occasioned by a
great outburst Of gaseous material and energy 1t is
a great explosion the magnitude of which defies the
imagination.
Q-1s the use of sold coins in the United States
legal?
A-Their possession. except in numismatic corec-
tons and their use as money IS illegal at the present
time.
Q-what was The Scarlet Pimpernel?"
Alt is the name of novel by Baroness ORGY.
The title is taken from the name Of cover.