Two very brilliant southern stars, CANOPUS and ALPHA CENTAURI, are never seen from far northern countries. Both of them are brighter than any other first-magnitude star except Sirius. They quite outshine Arcturus. Alpha Centauri, as you have heard earlier, is the very nearest star to the Earth the distance of which we know. But Canopus is one of the more distant stars. Since it is so very distant, and so very bright, we believe it to be another giant-sun. There are many more constellations besides these with which one ought to be acquainted. It is a good plan to look out the different star-groups in a map of the heavens, and then, on a clear night, to find them in the Sky. QUESTIONS. 1. Which is the easiest heavenly body to find in the Sky, after the Sun and Moon? The Planet Venus. 2. Where must you look for Venus? Always rather near the Sun. 3. At what time of day? Sometimes in the evening, sometimes in the morning. 4. And in what direction? The same direction as the Sun. If in the morning, Venus will be seen towards the east, before sunrise. If in the evening, towards the west after sunset. 5. Why is Venus the easiest to find? Because she is brightest of all; brighter than all stars and all other planets. 6. Where is Mercury to be found? Always near the Sun, like Venus; but Mercury is nearer still, and so is above the horizon a shorter time before or after the Sun. 7. Which is the next brightest world in the sky after Venus? The planet Jupiter. 8. Where is Jupiter to be found? In different parts of the sky at different times. He may be known by his brightness, second only to that of Venus. 9. What is Mars like? Reddish in color; and of course Mars, like other planets, does not twinkle. 10. Which Star remains always in one spot, as seen from Earth? The Pole-Star, over our North Pole. 11. What constellation does the Pole-star belong to? The constellation of the Little Bear. 12. Tell me four chief constellations grouped round the Pole-star. The Great Bear, and Cassiopeia; Lyra and Auriga. 13. Are any first magnitude stars in these four groups? The bright star Vega, in Lyra; and the bright star Capella, in Auriga. 14. Tell me of another constellation near the Pole-star. Draco, or the Dragon. 15. Where is the bright star Arcturus? Arcturus is in the constellation Boötes. 16. Where is the Pleiades cluster? The Pleiades cluster is in the constellation Taurus. 17. Is there any first-magnitude star in Taurus? Yes, the bright star Aldebaran. 18. Tell me of a grand star-group near the Pleiades. The constellation Orion. 19. How many stars of the first magnitude are in Orion? Two; Rigel and Betelgeuse. 20. Where is the brightest of stars, Sirius? In the constellation Canis Major, or The Great Dog. 21. How can you find Sirius when you know Orion? The two feet-stars of Orion point towards Sirius. 22. Tell me of two very brilliant southern stars. Canopus and Alpha Centauri.