If we follow the imaginary line drawn through the Pointers in a
_southerly_ direction about forty-five degrees, we come to Leo,
The Lion, one of the zodiacal constellations. There should be
no difficulty in finding the constellation Leo, as its peculiar
sickle-shaped group of bright stars makes it distinctive from all
other constellations. At the time we have mentioned, that is, the
early evening hours, it will lie a little to the southwest of the
zenith. Leo is one of the finest constellations and is always
associated with the spring months because it is then high in the sky
in the evening. Regulus is the beautiful white star which marks
the handle of The Sickle, and the heart of Leo; and Denebola is the
second-magnitude star in the tail of Leo.
[Illustration: MAY--CORVUS AND CRATER]
Due south of Denebola, about thirty degrees, we find the small
star-group known as Crater, The Cup, which is composed of rather
faint and inconspicuous stars. Just east of Crater is the group
known as Corvus, The Crow, which forms a very characteristic little
four-sided figure of stars differing very little from one another
in brightness. These two star groups lie far to the south in our
latitudes; but if we lived twenty degrees south of the equator, we
would find them nearly overhead, at this time of the year. Just south
of Corvus and Crater we find Hydra, one of the constellations for
April which extends beneath these constellations and also beneath
Virgo, one of the June constellations.
VII
JUNE
The star-groups that occupy the center of the celestial stage in
mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere during the early evening
hours of June are Boötes, often called The Hunter, (although the word
means Herdsman or Shouter), which will be found overhead at this
time; Virgo, The Maiden, largest of the zodiacal constellations,
lying nearly due south; Canes Venatici, The Hunting Dogs; Corona
Borealis, The Northern Crown, and Coma Berenices.
The gorgeous orange-hued Arcturus in Boötes and the beautiful
bluish-white Spica in Virgo, like a diamond in its sparkling
radiance, form with Denebola in Leo, which we identified in May, a
huge equal-sided triangle that is always associated with the spring
and early summer months.
To the west of Boötes, below the handle of the Big Dipper, is a
region where there are few conspicuous stars. Here will be found
Canes Venatici (The Hunting Dogs with which Boötes is supposed to be
pursuing the Great Bear around the north pole), and, further south,
Coma Berenices (Bernice's Hair).
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