[Page 202] [Illustration: Fig. 68.—Algol is on the Meridian, 51 deg. South of Pole.—At 10 o’clock, December 7th; 9 o’clock, December 22d; 8 o’clock, January 5th.]
Equatorial Constellations.
If we turn our backs on Polaris on the 10th of November, at 10 o’clock in the evening, and look directly overhead, we shall see the beautiful constellation of Andromeda. Together with the square of Pegasus, it makes another enormous dipper. The star a Alpheratz is in her face, the three at the left cross her breast. b and the two above mark the girdle of her loins, and g is in the foot. Perseus is near enough for help; and Cetus, the sea-monster, is far enough away to do no harm. Below, and east of Andromeda, is the Ram of the golden fleece, recognizable by the three stars in an acute triangle. The brightest is called Arietis, or Hamel. East of this are the Pleiades, and the V-shaped Hyades in Taurus, or the Bull. The Pleiades rise about 9 o’clock on the evening of the 10th of September, and at 3 o’clock A.M. on June 10th.
[Page 203] [Illustration: Fig. 69.—Capella (45 deg. from the Pole) and Rigel (100 deg.) are on the Meridian at 8 o’clock February 7th, 9 o’clock January 22d, and at 10 o’clock January 7th.]
Fig. 69 extends east and south of our last map. It is the most gorgeous section of our heavens. (See the Notes to the Frontispiece.) Note the triangle, 26 deg. on a side, made by Betelguese, Sirius, and Procyon. A line from Procyon to Pollux leads quite near to Polaris. Orion is the mighty hunter. Under his feet is a hare, behind him are two dogs, and before him is the rushing bull. The curve of stars to the right of Bellatrix, g, represents his shield of the Nemean lion’s hide. The three stars of his belt make a measure 3 deg. long; the upper one, Mintaker, is less than 30’ south of the equinoctial. The ecliptic passes between Aldebaran and the Pleiades. Sirius rises about 9 o’clock P.M. on the 1st of December, and about 4 o’clock A.M. on the 16th of August. Procyon rises about half an hour earlier.
[Page 204] [Illustration: Fig. 70—Regulus comes on the Meridian, 79 deg. south from the Pole, at 10 o’clock March 23d, 9 o’clock April 8th, and at 8 o’clock April 23d.]