The Great Bear (_Ursa Major_) is beginning to rise above the northeast
(by north) horizon. The end of the Dipper's handle is hidden. A line
from the Pole Star (toward which the Pointers direct the observer)
to the Guardians of the pole (b and g of the Little Bear, _Ursa
Minor_), is now in the position of the minute hand of a clock 27
minutes before an hour. The stars of the Dragon wind round below
the Little Bear toward the west, the head of the Dragon with the
gleaming eyes ("oblique retorted that askant cast gleaming fire")
being low down, a little north of northwest. Above is King Cepheus,
and above him his queen, the Seated Lady (_Cassiopeia_); their
daughter, the Chained Lady (_Andromeda_) being nearly overhead.
Low down in the northwest we see the Lyre (_Lyra_), with the bright
Vega; and close by toward the west the Swan (_Cygnus_), or Northern
Cross. The Eagle is setting in the west, and the Little Dolphin
nears the western horizon.
Toward the southwest (by west) we see the Water Bearer (_Aquarius_),
with his pitcher (b, g, a), close by which is the head of the Winged
Horse (_Pegasus_). In the south, low down, is the absurd Phoenix;
above, the Sea Monster, or Whale (_Cetus_); above him, the Fishes
(_Pisces_); above them, the Ram (_Aries_); while nearly overhead
lies the Triangle, in reality the Triangles (_Triangula_).
The River (_Eridanus_) occupies the southeasterly sky. The Dove and
Great Dog (_Columba_ and _Canis Major_) are rising in the southeast.
The glorious _Orion_ has now come well into view, though not yet
so upright as we could wish a knightly hunter to be. He treads
on the Hare (_Lepus_), and faces the Bull (_Taurus_) above.
Due east we find the Crab (_Cancer_), and Little Dog (_Canis Minor_)
low down; the Twins (_Gemini_) higher; above them the Charioteer
(_Auriga_), with the bright _Capella_, and _Perseus_ the Rescuer
nearing the point overhead. In the mid-space between _Perseus,
Auriga_, and the two Bears, we find the ridiculous constellation
_Camelopardus_, or the Giraffe.
[Illustration: MAP XII. NIGHT SKY.--NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
At 11 o'clock: Nov. 7. | |At 9 o'clock: Dec. 7.
At 10-1/2 o'clock: Nov. 14.|At 9-1/2 o'clock:|At 8-1/2 o'clock: Dec. 15.
At 10 o'clock: Nov. 22. | Nov. 30. |At 8 o'clock: Dec. 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.]