Astronomy with an Opera-glass: A Popular Introduction to the Study of the Starry Heavens with the Simplest of Optical InstrumentsServiss, Garrett Putman
Science
Astronomy with an Opera-glass: A Popular Introduction to the Study of the Starry Heavens with the Simplest of Optical Instruments
Serviss, Garrett Putman
Astronomy
"The figure itself is that of a mighty man seated on the Milky-Way,
holding a band or ribbon in his right hand, and with his left arm
holding up on his shoulder a she-goat which clings to his neck and looks
out in astonishment upon the terrible bull; while in his lap are two
frightened little kids which he supports with his great hand."
It is scarcely necessary to add that Dr. Seiss insists that Auriga, as a
constellation, was invented long before the time of the Greeks, and was
intended prophetically to represent that Good Shepherd who was to come
and rescue the sinful world.
If any reader wishes to exercise his fancy by trying to trace the
outlines of this figure, he will find the head of Auriga marked by the
star Delta ([delta]) and the little group near it. Capella, in the heart
of the Goat, is just below his left shoulder, and Menkalina marks his
right shoulder. El Nath is in his right foot, and Iota ([iota]) in his
left foot. The stars Epsilon ([epsilon]), Zeta ([zeta]), Eta ([eta]),
and Lambda ([lambda]) shine in the kids which lie in Auriga's lap. The
faint stars scattered over the eastern part of the constellation are
sometimes represented as forming a whip with many lashes, which the
giant flourishes with his right hand.
Let us turn back to Denebola in the Lion's Tail. Now glance from it down
into the southeast, and you will see a brilliant star flashing well
above the horizon. This is Spica, the chief twinkler of Virgo, and it is
marked on our circular map. Then look into the northwest, and at about
the same distance from Denebola, but higher above the horizon than
Spica, you will catch the sparkling of a large, reddish star. It is
Arcturus in Booetes. The three, Denebola, Spica, and Arcturus, mark the
corners of a great equilateral triangle. Nearly on a line between
Denebola and Arcturus, and somewhat nearer to the former, you will
perceive a curious twinkling, as if gossamers spangled with dew-drops
were entangled there. One might think the old woman of the nursery rhyme
who went to sweep the cobwebs out of the sky had skipped this corner, or
else that its delicate beauty had preserved it even from her housewifely
instincts. This is the little constellation called Berenice's Hair. Your
opera-glass will enable you to count twenty or thirty of the largest
stars composing this cluster, which are arranged, as so often happens,
with a striking appearance of geometrical design. The constellation has
a very romantic history. It is related that the young Queen Berenice,
when her husband was called away to the wars, vowed to sacrifice her
beautiful tresses to Venus if he returned victorious over his enemies.
He did return home in triumph, and Berenice, true to her vow, cut off
her hair and bore it to the Temple of Venus. But the same night it
disappeared. The king was furious, and the queen wept bitterly over the
loss. There is no telling what might have happened to the guardians of
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