The Great Bear (_Ursa Major_) is now in the northwest, his paws
near the horizon. The Pointers (a and b) direct us to the Pole
Star, (a 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 b and g,
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 a (which was also called d of _Pegasus_).
(The "Square of Pegasus" is formed by a of _Andromeda_ and a, b,
and g 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.
[Illustration: MAP VIII. NIGHT SKY.--JULY AND AUGUST.
At 11 o'clock: July 7. | |At 9 o'clock: Aug. 7.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: July 14.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: Aug. 14.
At 10 o'clock: July 22. | July 30. |At 8 o'clock: Aug. 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 IX. NIGHT SKY.--AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.
At 11 o'clock: Aug. 7. | |At 9 o'clock: Sept. 6.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: Aug. 14.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: Sept. 14.
At 10 o'clock: Aug. 22. | Aug. 29. |At 8 o'clock: Sept. 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.]