The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-03


 along the zodiacal belt is the con- stellation of Virgo which occupies a stretch of about forty-f1ve degrees along the ecliptic circle. On our chart 1t will be seen to extend from Leo right down to the eastern hori- zon. In the classical mythology, Vir- go represents Ceres, the goddess of the harvest and plenty. The first magnitude star, Spica, is an ear of grain which that benign deity ex- tends to the human race. In Virgo, near its western end, lies the au- tumnal equinox. Several thousand years ago this equinox lay close to Spica but the professional move ment of the equinox has shifted its type B stars in which the lines of the element Helium are prominent. To the observer on the earth, Spica is only slightly the brighter of the twp; in reality it is 8 much greater star, for its distance from us is near ly four times, that of Regulus.
 Gamma Virginis, an interesting double star, is the nearest bright StNr to the westward of Spica; 1t is composed of two third-magnitude stars which form 8 binary system, the two untis of which move in or bits around one another or stated more accurately, around their com- mon center of gravity. They can be easily seen in a small telescope. Be- tween Gamma Virgins and Denebo- la, the bright star which marks the eastern extremity of Leo, is grand area which is remarkably rich in spiral nebulas. In this area there IS a super-galaxy consisting Of many such nebulas which form a physi- cally united system. Each spiral nabula itself is known to consist Of vast numbers of individual stars visible in the heavens belong. The super galaxy contains 8 hundred or more stellar galaxies.
 Between Leo and the north celes- tial pole will be found the Great Dipper. The handle of the Dipper extends eastward and by following its curve with our eye we are led to the brilliant first-magnitude star Arcturus, in the constellation or Bootes. This star is of yellowish hue, more pronounced in color than our sun. Its distance from us is about forty light-years and its luminosity is about one hundred times that Of the sun.
 Within the curve of the Great Dipper's handle lies the conStella- ton of Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. Formerly this was a part or Ursa Major, the Great Bear, to which the Great Dipper belongs. The brightest star in Venatici is sometimes called Cor Carroll, Heart of Charles, after King Charles Of England. Needless to say this name is but little used in spite of Its pleasant sound. Even 8 small teles- cope is sufficient to show Its nature as doub lestar; one component IS yellow, the other distinctly bluish and their close proximity serves to heighten the contrasting colors. It IS one of the prettiest colored doubles in the sky. The Cor Carroll or Alpha Can. Ven. system is over two hun dred light-years away from uS.f In this same constellation there is also a very fine double spiral nebula which Is not visible in: q small tel escope but of which 8 number or excellent photographs are available. The two nebulas appear almost m contact, with their spiral arms clwv- ing away in opposite directions. ~
 Lying between Virgo and Canes venatici is a. fine cluster group known as Coma Berenices or Hair of Berenice. Like the Pleiades this is an aggregation Df many stars which form q physical united 4sys- tenn, They move through space to- gether as a REAwifAtional unit al-