The Heavens Above: A Popular Handbook of AstronomyRolfe, W. J. (William James)
Science
The Heavens Above: A Popular Handbook of Astronomy
Rolfe, W. J. (William James)
Astronomy
To find _Cassiopeia_, draw a line from Delta of the Dipper to Polaris,
and prolong it about an equal distance beyond, as shown in Fig. 372.
This line will pass near Alpha of Cassiopeia. The five principal stars
of this constellation form an irregular _W_, opening towards the pole.
Between Cassiopeia and Draco are five rather faint stars, which form an
irregular _K_. These are the principal stars of the constellation
_Cepheus_. These two constellations are shown in Fig. 374.
[Illustration: Fig. 374.]
[Illustration: Fig. 375.]
331. _The Lion, Berenice's Hair, and the Hunting-Dogs._--A line drawn
from Alpha to Beta of the Dipper, and prolonged as shown in Fig. 375,
will pass between the two stars _Denebola_ and _Regulus_ of _Leo_, or
the _Lion_. Regulus forms a _sickle_ with several other faint stars, and
marks the heart of the lion. Denebola is at the apex of a right-angled
triangle, which it forms with two other stars, and marks the end of the
lion's tail. This constellation is visible in the evening from February
to July, and is figured in Fig. 376.
[Illustration: Fig. 376.]
In a straight line between Denebola and Eta, at the end of the Great
Bear's tail, are, at about equal distances, the two small constellations
of _Coma Berenices_, or _Berenice's Hair_, and _Canes Venatici_, or the
_Hunting-Dogs_. These are shown in Fig. 377. The dogs are represented as
pursuing the bear, urged on by the huntsman _Boötes_.
[Illustration: Fig. 377.]
332. _Boötes, Hercules, and the Northern Crown._--_Arcturus_, the
principal star of _Boötes_, may be found by drawing a line from Zeta to
Eta of the Dipper, and then prolonging it with a slight bend, as shown
in Fig. 378. Arcturus and Polaris form a large isosceles triangle with a
first-magnitude star called _Vega_. This triangle encloses at one corner
the principal stars of Boötes, and the head of the Dragon near the
opposite side. The side running from Arcturus to Vega passes through
_Corona Borealis_, or the _Northern Crown_, and the body of _Hercules_,
which is marked by a quadrilateral of four stars.
[Illustration: Fig. 378.]
_Boötes_, who is often represented as a husbandman, _Corona Borealis_,
and _Hercules_, are delineated in Fig. 379. These constellations are
visible in the evening from May to September.
[Illustration: Fig. 379.]
[Illustration: Fig. 380.]
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