Low down, between north and northwest, we find the seven stars
of the Dipper, the Pointers on the right nearly due north. They
direct us to the Pole Star. The Guardians of the Pole (b and g of
the Little Bear, _Ursa Minor_) lie in a direction from the Pole
Star corresponding to that of the minute hand of a clock about 17
minutes before an hour. Between the Pointers and the Pole Star we
find the tip of the Dragon's tail: then passing round the Little
Bear with the Dragon's long train of third magnitude stars, we come,
after a bend, to the Dragon's head, with the two bright eyes, a
and b--(part of the Dragon's nose has been borrowed by Hercules).
These two stars are almost exactly midway between the horizon and
the point overhead, and nearly northwest. King Cepheus--not a very
conspicuous constellation--lies between the point overhead and
the Little Bear.
Low down in the northwest we find the head of the Herdsman (_Boötes_).
The Crown (_Corona Borealis_), which no one can mistake, lies on
his left; and close by is the setting head of the Serpent. Above
these three groups we see Hercules--the Kneeler--his head at a,
his upraised club by g. Above the head of Hercules we find the
Lyre, with the bright star Vega; and above that the Swan.
Passing southward, we see the Serpent-Holder (_Serpentarius_ or
_Ophiuchus_), beyond whom lies the Serpent's tail; a most inconvenient
arrangement, as the Serpent is divided into two parts. Almost exactly
southeast, and low down, are the stars of the Archer (_Sagittarius_);
while above, in the mid-sky, we see the Eagle (_Aquila_), with the
bright Altair. Note the neat little constellation the Dolphin
(_Delphinus_), close by.
Due south is the Crane (_Grus_); above it the Southern Fish, with
the bright star Fomalhaut. Above that the Sea Goat (_Capricornus_),
and on the left of this the Water Bearer (_Aquarius_); one can
recognize his water pitcher, marked by the stars b, g, and a.
Toward the west, high up, is the Winged Horse (_Pegasus_); he is
upside down just now. Below lies the Whale (_Cetus_), or rather
the Sea Monster. I have my own notion about Cetus, regarding him
as an icthyosaurus: but that is neither here nor there. The star
o of this constellation is called Mira; it is a wonderful variable
star. The Fishes (_Pisces_) may be seen between the Whale and Pegasus.
Few constellations have suffered more than Pisces by the breaking
up of star groups. The Fishes themselves are now lost in Andromeda
and Pegasus.
Note how on the left of Pisces the Ram (_Aries_) "bears aloft"
Andromeda, the Chained Lady (whose head lies at a), as Milton set
Aries doing long since. The Triangles serve only as a saddle. Between
Andromeda and her father, Cepheus, we find her mother, Cassiopeia, or
rather Cassiopeia's Chair. (Of course b, a, and g mark the chair's
back.) Perseus, the Rescuer, lies below; b is the famous variable
_Algol_. Below him lies the Bull (_Taurus_), with the Pleiades and
the bright Aldebaran. Low down to the left of the Bull, we find
the Charioteer (_Auriga_), with the bright Capella. And lastly,
anyone who likes may admire the Camelopard (_Camelopardalis_),
between the Great Bear, Cepheus, and the Charioteer.
[Illustration: MAP X. NIGHT SKY.--SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
At 11 o'clock: Sept. 7. | |At 9 o'clock: Oct. 7.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: Sept. 14.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: Oct. 15.
At 10 o'clock: Sept. 21. | Sept. 30. |At 8 o'clock: Oct. 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 XI. NIGHT SKY.--OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.
At 11 o'clock: Oct. 7. | |At 9 o'clock: Nov. 7.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: Oct. 15.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: Nov. 14.
At 10 o'clock: Oct. 22. | Oct. 30. |At 8 o'clock: Nov. 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.]