Kitabı oku: «Half-Hours with the Stars», sayfa 4

NIGHT SKY.—APRIL AND MAY

The Great Bear (Ursa Major) is now at its highest and nearly overhead, the pointers aiming downward from high up, slightly west of due north. A line from the Pole Star, (α of the Little Bear, Ursa Minor) to the Guardians of the Pole, (β and γ) is now in the position of the minute hand of a clock 8 minutes after an hour.

Below the Little Bear we find Cepheus low down to the east of north, and Cassiopeia low down to the west of north. Perseus, the Rescuer, is setting in the northwest; the Camelopard is above, trying to get on his feet.

The Charioteer (Auriga), with the bright Capella, is nearing the northwestern horizon, followed by the Twins (Gemini), in the west. Further west and higher we find the Crab (Cancer), below which is the Little Dog (Canis Minor).

The southwestern sky is very barren of bright stars. Alfard, the heart of the Sea Serpent, Hydra, shines here alone in a great blank space. Above the Sea Serpent's head we see the Sickle in the Lion, Leo himself stretching his tail to due south, very high up. Coma Berenices is close by, and the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici) between Coma and the Great Bear.

In the south, lower down, we find the Crow (Corvus), and the Cup (Crater), on the Serpent's back; the Virgin (Virgo), extending in the mid-heavens from southeast to south, between the Lion's tail and the Crow. In the same direction, but low down, we find the head and body of the Centaur (Centaurus), supposed to have typified the patriarchal Noah.

In the southeast the Scorpion's heart has just risen, and between the head of Scorpio and the Virgin's robes we see the stars of the Scales (Libra).

Due east, low down, is the Serpent-Holder (Ophiuchus), on his back—it is the customary attitude of heavenly bodies when rising. The Serpent (Serpens) held by him is seen curving upward toward the Crown (Corona Borealis). The Serpent's head is due west, and above it we see the bright Arcturus, chief brilliant of the Herdsman (Boötes).

In the northeast is Hercules, his head close to the head of the Serpent-Holder. Beneath his feet is the Lyre (Lyra) with the brilliant Vega; and the Swan (Cygnus) has already half risen above the northeastern horizon.

Lastly, the Dragon (Draco) curves from between the Pointers and the Pole, round the Guardians toward Cepheus, and then retorts its head, with gleaming eyes (β and γ), toward the heel of Hercules.

NIGHT SKY.—MAY AND JUNE

The Great Bear (Ursa Major) occupies all the upper sky from the west to north, except a small space occupied by the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici). The Pointers are in the northwest, almost horizontal. A line from the Pole Star (α of the Little Bear—Ursa Minor) to the Guardians of the Pole (β and γ) now occupies the position of the minute hand of a clock 3 minutes past an hour.

Due north, low down, lies Cassiopeia, while above, somewhat toward the east, we find the inconspicuous constellation Cepheus. The Camelopard is in the west of north, and getting upright.

Low down in the northwest lie the Charioteer (Auriga), and the head stars of the Twins (Gemini) further west. The Crab (Cancer) is nearly due west, the Sea Serpent (Hydra) holding his head almost exactly to the west point. Above is the Sickle in the Lion, its blade curved downward, and the tail of the Lion (Leo) lies above, toward the south of west.

On the Serpent's back we find the Cup (Crater) and the Crow (Corvus), in the southwest and to the south of southwest respectively. Above these constellations, and extending beyond the south toward the east, the Virgin (Virgo) occupies the mid-heavens.

Above the Virgin we see the Herdsman (Boötes), his head and shoulders nearly overhead. Low down in the south is the Centaur (Centaurus), bearing on his spear the Wolf (Lupus) as an offering for the Altar (Ara), which, however, is invisible in these latitudes. Above the Wolf we see the Scales (Libra), while the Scorpion (Scorpio), one of the few constellations which can at once be recognized by its shape, is rising balefully in the southeast.

The Serpent Bearer (Ophiuchus) bears the Serpent (Serpens) in the mid-heavens toward the southeast, the Crown (Corona Borealis) being high up in the east, close by the Serpent's head.

Low down in the east is the Eagle (Aquila), with the fine steel-blue star Altair, the Swan on the left about northeast, and above it the Lyre (Lyra), with the still more brilliant steel-blue star Vega. Hercules occupies the space between the Lyre on the one side and the Crown and the Serpent's head on the other. He is high up, due east.

Lastly, the Dragon winds from between the Pointers and the Pole round the Little Bear, toward Cepheus, and then eastward toward the feet of Hercules, close by which we see his head and gleaming eyes (β and γ).

MAP VI. NIGHT SKY.—MAY AND JUNE.

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 VII. NIGHT SKY.—JUNE AND JULY.

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.