The Great Bear (_Ursa Major_) is now nearing the point overhead,
the Pointers (a and b) aiming almost directly downward toward the
Pole Star. The line from this star (a of the Little Bear, _Ursa
Minor_) to the Guardians (b and g) 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 a, _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,
b and g, being rather low down, and somewhat north of northeast.
[Illustration: MAP IV. NIGHT SKY.--MARCH AND APRIL.
At 11 o'clock: Mar. 8. | |At 9 o'clock: Apr. 7.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: Mar. 16.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: Apr. 14.
At 10 o'clock: Mar. 23. | Mar. 30. |At 8 o'clock: Apr. 22.
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 V. NIGHT SKY.--APRIL AND MAY.
At 11 o'clock: Apr. 7. | |At 9 o'clock: May 7.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: Apr. 14.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: May 15.
At 10 o'clock: Apr. 22. | Apr. 30. |At 8 o'clock: May. 22.
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.]