The Great Bear (_Ursa Major_) is now rising well above the horizon, in
the northeast, the Pointers about midway between north and northeast.
A line from the Pole Star to the Guardians of the Pole is now in
the position of the minute hand of a clock about 28 minutes past
an hour. The Dragon (_Draco_) lies due north, curving round under
the Little Bear, its head close to the horizon. Low down in the
northwest is a part of the Swan (_Cygnus_). Higher up we see King
Cepheus, his wife _Cassiopeia_, and their daughter _Andromeda_
(the Seated Lady and Chained Lady, respectively), with the Rescuer
(_Perseus_) nearly overhead. The Winged Horse is setting, his head
close by the western horizon, and near the jar of the Water Bearer
(_Aquarius_).
In the southwest is the Whale; and close by, the constellation
_Pisces_, or the Fishes; above them the Ram (_Aries_), between which
and _Andromeda_ the Triangles can be seen.
In the south the River (_Eridanus_) makes now its best show. Its
leading brilliant, _Achernar_, is, however, never seen in the United
States. In the southeast the Great Dog, with the splendid Sirius
("which brightliest shines when laved of ocean's wave"), shows
resplendently. Above is Orion now standing upright, treading on the
Hare (_Lepus_) and facing the Bull (_Taurus_), now at its highest. The
Dove (_Columba_) below the Hare is a modern and not very interesting
constellation.
The Little Dog (_Canis Minor_) is on the east of Orion. In the
east the Sea Serpent (_Hydra_) is rising, and due east a little
higher we find _Cancer_, the Crab, (note the pretty cluster called
the Beehive (_Proesepe_)); above are the twins (_Gemini_), and
above them the Charioteer (_Auriga_), with the bright _Capella_,
nearly overhead.
The Lion is rising in the northeast, his heart star _Regulus_ (a)
being low down a little north of east.
Lastly, due north, high up, the absurd Giraffe (_Camelopardus_)
stands proudly on his ridiculous head.