By these two clusters we may know the constellation. The ecliptic
passes across Taurus about four degrees east of the Pleiades, and
about seven degrees west of Aldebaran. The planets in passing through
this region often come very close to the Pleiades, and parts of the
group are sometimes occulted by the moon. Taurus is conspicuous in the
eastern evening sky from September until nearly January. From that
time on until May it may be seen in the evening, high up in the sky,
a little farther west each evening, until it disappears in May. Among
the four planets that we most see Mars is the only one that resembles
Aldebaran in color. They are both reddish, but Mars is always west of
Aldebaran near the line of the ecliptic, and also it does not have the
same twinkling face that Aldebaran shows; hence the star and the planet
need never be confused. Mercury, it is true, is reddish and twinkles,
but so seldom needs to be taken into account that it will not be
troublesome. The other planets when in Taurus will proclaim themselves
by their color and size. There is no very bright star in Taurus except
Aldebaran, which has been described. Any bright star north of it in the
constellation is sure to be a planet.
Through Taurus the line of the ecliptic runs in a northeasterly
direction, and about fifteen degrees east from Aldebaran it passes
about half-way between two fairly bright stars which mark the tips of
the horns of Taurus, and from there on into the fourth constellation.
GEMINI
Gemini lies northeast of Taurus, and is outlined by a box-shaped figure
something more than twenty degrees long and about five degrees wide.
The two stars marking the end of it farthest from Taurus are the famous
twins, Castor and Pollux.[3] Pollux is a first-magnitude star, and
Castor is very little less bright. They are both very charming stars,
and too conspicuous to escape easy identification. Castor is greenish
in tint, and rises between an hour and a half and two hours later than
Aldebaran. About fifteen minutes after he appears, Pollux, with a
yellow-tinted face, comes up over the eastern horizon. They rise about
thirty degrees north of the exact east. The ecliptic has reached its
highest point north just after passing through the horns of Taurus.
It then runs through Gemini in a southeasterly direction, curving
diagonally across the main figure and passing five or six degrees
below Pollux. Gemini can be seen from October to early June. It is
particularly charming in May in the northwest just after sundown, and
when any of the planets are going along this part of their path at that
season, they are sure to win one’s interest and admiration.
[3] See “The Heavenly Twins” in _The Friendly Stars_.
CANCER
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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