In Tucana is located one of the finest globular star clusters in the heavens, known as 47 Tucanæ. This cluster and Omega Centauri, a globular star cluster in Centaurus, are the two nearest of all the globular clusters. They are distant from the earth about 22,000 light-years and it is known that the combined light of the thousands of stars of which each cluster is composed is about one million times that of our own sun. In the western sky in the southern hemisphere in February may be seen the brilliant, white, first-magnitude star Achernar in the river Eridanus, the long, winding constellation that, we recall, starts near the brilliant Rigel in Orion and disappears from the view of northern observers below the southern horizon, extending its course far into the southern hemisphere. Achernar means "The End of the River" and this is nearly its position in the constellation. Though Argo Navis is the largest and most important constellation of the southern hemisphere, Crux, The Southern Cross, far-famed in story and legend as well as for its historical associations, is beyond a doubt the most popular. The best time to view the Southern Cross is in June or July when it is near the meridian. It is not seen to advantage in the months of January or February. It then lies on its side and close to the horizon and therefore is dimmed by atmospheric haze so that it almost invariably is a disappointing object to the tourist from the north who usually views it for the first time in one of these months. The Cross is viewed to advantage in the latitude of Rio or Valparaiso and it is best seen from the Straits where it rides high overhead. It is not seen to advantage from the latitudes of Cuba or Jamaica. It is small, only 6° in extent from north to south and less in width and it lies in the most brilliant portion of the Milky Way which is here a narrow stream only three or four degrees wide. Directly below the Cross is the noted Coal Sack, apparently a yawning chasm in the midst of its brilliant surroundings though probably in reality a dark nebula. Viewed with the telescopes a number of stars are to be seen projected on this dark background. The Southern Cross is to the inhabitants of the southern hemisphere what the Big Dipper is to those who dwell in the northern hemisphere--an infallible timepiece. The upright of the Cross points toward the south pole of the heavens which lies in a region where there is a singular dearth of bright stars, the nearest star to the south pole being a faint fifth-magnitude star called Sigma Octantis. When seen in the southeast or southwest the Cross lies on its side, but when passing the meridian it stands nearly upright. Humboldt, referring to this fact, says: "How often have we heard our guides exclaim in the savannahs of Venezuela and in the desert extending from Lima to Truxillo, 'Midnight is past, the Cross begins to bend.'"