In 1779 Mira is reported to have been as bright as the first-magnitude star Aldebaran. It lies almost exactly on a line joining γ and ζ Ceti a little nearer the former. Ten degrees south of it are four faint stars about 3° apart forming a square. τ Ceti is one of our nearest neighbors at a distance of nine light years. ζ is a naked-eye double star. [Illustration: CETUS] MUSCA (mus´-kä)--THE FLY. (Face Southeast.) LOCATION.--Musca lies between Triangulum and Aries, the diagram clearly defining its position. The four stars composing it form a group shaped like the letter "Y." There is nothing of particular interest to be noted in this asterism. It does not appear on modern star charts and is considered obsolete. So great is the distance that separates us from the stars that as for the great majority had they been blotted out of existence before the Christian era, we of to-day should still receive their light and seem to see them just as we do. When we scan the nocturnal skies we study ancient history. We do not see the stars as they are but as they were centuries on centuries ago. [Illustration: MUSCA] METEORIC SHOWERS. OCTOBER TO JANUARY. +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ | | | | | Other Dates | | | Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point |Characteristics| of |Location| | | | | | Observation | | +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ | | | Between Great | | | | | Ursids |Oct. 4 |Bear's head and | Sw. Sk. | Aug. 20-24 | N. | | | | Polaris | | | | +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ |Epsilon Arietids | | East of Hamal, | | Oct. 11-24, | | | Rich shower |Oct. 14| near Musca | M. Sw. | Oct. 30- | E. | | 1877 | | | | Nov. 4 | | +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ | Orionids |Oct. 18| Near Alhena in | After 11 P.M. | Oct. 16-22 | E. | | Fine shower | | Gemini | Sw. Sk. | | | +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ | | |Near Castor and | After 10 P.M. | Nov. 7, | | | Delta Geminids |Oct. 29| Pollux | v. Sw. Sk. | Dec. 4, | N.E. | | | | | | Oct. 16-22 | | +-----------------+-------+----------------+---------------+--------------+--------+ |(e) Taurids. Rich|Nov. 2 | About 13° S.E. | Sl. B.T. | Nov.