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NIGHT SKY.—FEBRUARY AND MARCH

The Great Bear (Ursa Major), with its Dipper and Pointers, is now high up in the northeastern sky. The Pointers direct us to the Pole Star, (α of the Little Bear Ursa Minor). A line from the Pole Star to the Guardians of the Pole (β and γ) lies in the position of the minute hand of a clock 18 minutes after an hour. The Dragon (Draco) extends from between the Bears to the horizon—east of north—where its head with its two bright eyes can be seen.

Cepheus is low down, somewhat to the west of north; his Queen (Cassiopeia) the Seated Lady, beside him (α and β mark the top rail of her chair's back); while above her lies the poor constellation Camelopardus, the Giraffe.

Andromeda, the Chained Lady, is in the northwest, low down—in fact, partly set; the Triangles and the Ram (Aries) beside her, toward the west. Above them is Perseus, the Rescuing Knight; and above him, somewhat to the west, the Charioteer (Auriga). The Bull (Taurus), with the Pleiades and the bright Aldebaran, is in the mid-heaven, due west; Gemini, the Twins, higher, and toward the southwest. Orion, below them, is already slanting toward "his grave, low down in the west"; beneath him the Hare, and in the southwest a part of the River (Eridanus).

Due south is a part of the Star Ship (Argo), beside which, low down, is the foolish Dove (Columba), while above leaps the Great Dog (Canis Major), with the splendid Sirius, chief of all the stars in the sky, marking his mouth.

High up, a little west of north, is the Little Dog (Canis Minor); and higher, a little east of north, the Crab (Cancer), the "dark constellation," as it was called of old, with the pretty cluster Prœsepe, or the Beehive.

The Sea Serpent (Hydra) is rearing his long neck high above the horizon, bearing on his back, absurdly enough, Noah's Cup (Crater) and Noah's Raven or Crow (Corvus).

Nearly due east, the Virgin (Virgo) has risen, Spica shining brightly just above the horizon. The Lion (Leo) occupies the mid-space above; the "Sickle in the Lion"—its handle marked by η and α, its curved blade by γ, μ, and ε—will at once be recognized. The Hair of Queen Berenice (Coma Berenices) is nearly due east, and fairly high. Between this small but remarkable group and the Great Bear, lies Hevelius's foolish constellation, the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici). Lastly, in the northeast, the Herdsman (Boötes), with the orange-yellow brilliant, Arcturus, is rising, though at present, paradoxical as it may seem, he lies on his back.

NIGHT SKY.—MARCH AND APRIL

The Great Bear (Ursa Major) is now nearing the point overhead, the Pointers (α and β) aiming almost directly downward toward the Pole Star. The line from this star (α of the Little Bear, Ursa Minor) to the Guardians (β and γ) is now in the position of the minute hand of a clock about 13 minutes after an hour.

Cepheus lies north, low down, Cassiopeia on his left, the Camelopard above her, Andromeda just setting, almost due northwest, on the left. Perseus is due northwest, rather low, the Charioteer (Auriga) on his left, but higher. Setting between west and northwest we see the Bull (Taurus), with the Pleiades and the ruddy Aldebaran. Orion is almost prone in his descent toward his western grave. The Twins (Gemini) are due west, in the mid-heavens; the Little Dog (Canis Minor) beside them on their left, the Crab (Cancer) above, the Greater Dog (Canis Major) below, chasing the Hare (Lepus) below the horizon. Just behind the Dog the poop of the Great Ship (Argo) is also setting.

The Sea Serpent (Hydra) now shows his full length, rearing his head high in the south. Observe the darkness of the region around his heart, marked by the star α, Alfard, the Solitary One. The Cup (Crater) and Crow (Corvus) stand on his back.

The Sickle in the Lion (Leo) now stands with handle upright, due south. Below the tail stars of the Lion we see the Virgin (Virgo), with the bright Spica Azimech. The set of five third magnitude stars, above, was called by the Arabs, for reasons not explained, the "Retreat of the Howling She Dog."

Behind the Lion, due east and high up, we see Coma Berenices, the hair of Queen Berenice, between which and the tail of the Great Bear we see in the chart one star only of the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici).

The Herdsman (Boötes), still on his back, pursues in that striking and effective position the Great Bear. Below the shoulder stars of the Herdsman we see the Crown (Corona Borealis), near which, on the right, low down and due east, the head of the Serpent (Serpens) is rising. Hercules is also rising, but in the northeast.

Lastly, the stars of the Dragon (Draco) can be seen curving from between the Pointers and the Pole, round the Little Bear, then back toward Hercules, the head of the Dragon, with the bright eyes, β and γ, being rather low down, and somewhat north of northeast.

MAP IV. NIGHT SKY.—MARCH AND APRIL.

Stars of the first magnitude are eight-pointed; second magnitude, six-pointed; third magnitude, five-pointed; fourth magnitude (a few), four-pointed; fifth magnitude (very few), three-pointed. For star names refer to page 4.

MAP V. NIGHT SKY.—APRIL AND MAY.

Stars of the first magnitude are eight-pointed; second magnitude, six-pointed; third magnitude, five-pointed; fourth magnitude (a few), four-pointed; fifth magnitude (very few), three-pointed. For star names refer to page 4.