Kitabı oku: «Half-Hours with the Stars», sayfa 5

NIGHT SKY.—JUNE AND JULY

The Great Bear (Ursa Major) is in the mid-heavens toward the northwest, the Pointers not far from the horizontal position. They direct us to the Pole Star (α of the Little Bear, Ursa Minor). The line from this star to the Guardians of the Pole, β and γ, is in about the position of the minute hand of a clock 2 minutes before an hour. The Dragon (Draco) curls over the Little Bear, curving upward on the east, to where its head, high up in the northeast, is marked by the gleaming eyes, β and γ. Under the Little Bear, the Camelopard has at last come upright.

Low down in the west the Lion (Leo) is setting. The point of the "Sickle in the Lion" is turned toward the horizon; the handle (marked by α and η) is nearly horizontal. Above the Lion's tail is Berenice's Hair (Coma Berenices); and between that and the Great Bear's tail our chart shows a solitary star of the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici). The Crow (Corvus) is low down in the southwest, the Cup (Crater) beside it, partly set, on the right. Above is Virgo, the Virgin. Still higher in the southwest—in fact, with head close to the point overhead—is the Herdsman (Boötes), the Crown (Corona Borealis) near his southern shoulder marking what was once the Herdsman's uplifted arm.

Low down between the south and southwest we find the head and shoulders of the Centaur (Centaurus), who holds the Wolf (Lupus) due south. Above the Wolf are the Scales (Libra), and above these the Serpent (Serpens), his head in the south, stretching toward the Crown. In the mid-sky, toward the southeast, we find the Serpent Bearer (Ophiuchus—one star of the Serpent lies east of him). Below the Serpent Bearer we find the Scorpion (Scorpio), now fully risen, and showing truly scorpionic form. Beside the Scorpion is the Archer (Sagittarius), low down in the southeast. To his left we see, low down, two stars marking the head of the Sea Goat (Capricornus), and one belonging to the Water Bearer (Aquarius). Above the Sea Goat flies the Eagle (Aquila), with the bright star Altair; and above, near the point overhead, is the kneeling Hercules. Due east, we see part of the Winged Horse (Pegasus); above that, the little Dolphin (Delphinus), and higher, the Swan (Cygnus) and the Lyre (Lyra), with the beautiful bluish-white star Vega.

Lastly, low down, between north and northeast, we find the Seated Lady (Cassiopeia); and above, somewhat eastwardly, the inconspicuous constellation Cepheus, Cassiopeia's royal husband.

NIGHT SKY.—JULY AND AUGUST

The Great Bear (Ursa Major) is now in the northwest, his paws near the horizon. The Pointers (α and β) 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 is in the position of the minute hand of a clock about 7 minutes before an hour. Below the Little Bear we see the Camelopard, a little to the east of due north. The Dragon (Draco) curves round from between the Pointers and the Pole, above the Little Bear toward the east, then upward to near the point overhead, its head, with the bright stars β and γ, being highest. Low down in the west we see Berenice's Hair (Coma Berenices), and one star of the Hunting Dogs (Canes Venatici) is seen in the chart between Coma and the Great Bear. The Herdsman {Boötes) occupies the mid-heaven in the west, the Crown (Corona Borealis) higher up, and due west, Hercules, between the Crown and the point overhead.

Low down, extending from the west to near the southwest, we find the Virgin (Virgo), the bright Spica near its setting place. In the southwest are the Scales (Libra), and farther to the left, extending from the Scales to low down near the south, we find the Scorpion (Scorpio), one of the finest of the constellations, Antares, the rival of Mars (as the name means), marking its heart. Above the Scorpion and the Scales are the Serpent Bearer (Serpentarius or Ophiuchus) and the Serpent (Serpens), extending right across him to near the Crown, after which the Serpent seems reaching.

A little east due south, low down, we find the Archer (Sagittarius); in the southeast, low down, the Sea Goat (Capricornus); and farther east, and lower down, the Water Bearer (Aquarius). Above the Sea Goat is the Eagle (Aquila), with the bright bluish-white star Altair; on its left the pretty little Dolphin (Delphinus), and above the Dolphin, nearly overhead, the Lyre (Lyra), with the bluish-white star Vega (even brighter than Altair) nearly overhead.

Below the Lyre we see the Swan (Cygnus), due east; and below the Swan the Winged Horse (Pegasus), upside down, as usual.

In the northeast, Andromeda, the Chained Lady, is rising, her head marked by the star α (which was also called δ of Pegasus). (The "Square of Pegasus" is formed by α of Andromeda and α, β, and γ of Pegasus.)

Between the north and northeast is Cassiopeia, the Seated Lady, and above her, her husband, King Cepheus. And lastly Perseus is just rising, between the north and northeast.

MAP VIII. NIGHT SKY.—JULY AND AUGUST.

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 IX. NIGHT SKY.—AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.

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.