The Great Bear (_Ursa Major_) with its Dipper and Pointers, occupies
the northeasterly mid-heaven. A line from the Pole Star (a of the
Little Bear, _Ursa Minor_) to the Guardians, b and g, lies in the
position of the minute hand of a clock 23 minutes after an hour.
The Camelopard (_Camelopardus_) is above. The Dragon (_Draco_),
whose head is below the horizon, curves round the Little Bear to
between the Guardians and the Pointers. In the northwest, fairly
high up, we find _Cassiopeia_, the Seated Lady, and on her right,
lower down, the inconspicuous constellation _Cephius_. _Andromeda_,
the Chained Lady, is on _Cassiopeia's_ left. The Great Nebula will
be noticed in the map--it is faintly visible to the naked eye. Above
_Andromeda_ is _Perseus_, the Rescuing Knight, and above him the
Charioteer (_Auriga_), nearly overhead. On the left of _Andromeda_
is _Aries_, the Ram, the small constellation the Triangles lying
between them.
Toward the southwest, the Whale (_Cetus_) is beginning to set. The
River (_Eridanus_) occupies the lower part of the southwesterly
sky, and extends also to the mid-heavens in that direction. The
Dove (_Columba_) is nearly due south, and at its best--which is
not saying much. Above is the Hare (_Lepus_), on which _Orion_
treads. The Giant now presents his noblest aspect--prince of all
the constellations as he is. He faces the Bull (_Taurus_), known
by the _Pleiades_ and the bright _Aldebaran_.
Close by the poor Hare, on the left, leaps _Canis Major_, the Greater
Dog, with the bright Sirius, which "bickers into green and emerald."
The stern of the Star Ship (_Argo_) is nearing the south.
Very high in the southeast we find the Twins (_Gemini_), with the
twin stars, _Castor_ and _Pollux_ (a and b); and below them the
Little Dog (_Canis Minor_). The Sea Serpent (_Hydra_) is rearing
its tall neck above the eastern horizon (by south), as if aiming
either for the Little Dog or for the Crab (_Cancer_), now high
up in the east, with its pretty Beehive cluster showing well in
clear weather. The Lion (_Leo_) is due east, the Sickle (marked
by the stars a, ae, g, m, and e) being easily recognized.
Queen Berenice's Hair (_Coma Berenices_, not _Berenicis_, as often
ignorantly given) is in the northeast. It used to mark the tip of
the real Lion's tail, just as the stars of the Crab marked his
head. The Hunting Dogs occupy the space between Berenice's Hair
and the Great Bear.
[Illustration: MAP II. NIGHT SKY.--JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
At 11 o'clock: Jan. 7. | |At 9 o'clock: Feb. 6.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: Jan. 14.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: Feb. 14.
At 10 o'clock: Jan. 22. | Jan. 29. |At 8 o'clock: Jan. 21.
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.]
[Illustration: MAP III. NIGHT SKY.--FEBRUARY AND MARCH.
At 11 o'clock: Feb. 6. | |At 9 o'clock: Mar. 8.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: Feb. 14.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: Mar. 16.
At 10 o'clock: Feb. 21. | Mar. 1. |At 8 o'clock: Mar. 23.
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.]