Part 13

An opera-glass reveals much that is worthy of observation in this region of the sky. It has been said of the clusters between Cassiopeia and Perseus that they form the most striking sidereal spectacle in the northern heavens. They are visible to the naked eye. Algenib never sets in the latitude of New York, just touching the horizon at its lower culmination. It is estimated that Algol is a little over a million miles in diameter, [[^e]] has three faint stars on one side nearly in a line, and one on the other--a miniature representation of Jupiter and his satellites.

Algol, when on the meridian of New York City, is only one tenth of a degree from the zenith point. This remarkable variable has a dark companion star revolving near it obscuring its light in part from us at stated intervals. By means of the spectroscope the speed diameter and mass of this invisible star has been reckoned.

PISCES (pis'[=e]z)--THE FISHES. (Face Southeast.)

LOCATION.--This constellation is represented by two fishes each with a ribbon tied to its tail. One, the Northern Fish, lies just below Andromedae,--the other, represented by the circlet, is just below Pegasus. The ribbons, represented by streams of faint stars, from a "V" with elongated sides, and terminate in the star Al Rischa, The Knot.

Below [[^o]], and to the east of the spot marked (*) is the place which the sun occupies at the time of the equinox. It is one of the two crossing places of the equinoctial, or equator, of the heavens, and the ecliptic, or sun's path.

Below Pisces is Cetus, the Whale.

Pisces is thought to have taken its name from its coincidence with the sun during the rainy season.

Three distinct conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn took place in this constellation in the year 747 of Rome.

Pisces was considered the national constellation of the Jews, as well as a tribal symbol.

In 1881, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus were grouped together in Pisces.

The Circlet is a very striking group forming a pentagon. The glass reveals two faint stars in addition, making the figure seven-sided or elliptical in form.

As to the number of the stars as classified according to their magnitude, that is their brightness, it may be mentioned that there are approximately 20 stars of the first magnitude, 65 of the second, 300 of the third, and 450 of the fourth. We cannot see stars fainter than the sixth magnitude with the naked eye.

TRIANGULUM (tr[=i]-an'-g[=u]-lum)--THE TRIANGLE. (Face East.)

LOCATION.--A line drawn from the star Pegasi to Algol in Perseus passes through Trianguli.

The triangle is clearly defined and a beautiful figure. It lies just below Andromeda, and above Aries.

Triangulum is a very ancient constellation, being formerly named Deltoton, from the Greek letter Delta .

It was in this locality that Piazzi discovered the asteroid Ceres, January 1, 1800.

Trianguli is sometimes called "Caput Trianguli."

and Trianguli were known as "The Scale Beam." According to Argelander the constellation contains fifteen stars.

The Triangle has been likened to the Trinity, and the Mitre of St. Peter.

AQUARIUS (a-kw[=a]'ri-us)--THE WATER CARRIER. (Face Southwest.)

LOCATION.--A line drawn from Pegasi to of the same constellation, and prolonged as far again, ends just east of the so-called water jar of Aquarius, which is formed by a group of four stars in the form of a "Y," as indicated in the diagram. The Arabians called these four stars a tent.

The jar is represented as inverted, allowing a stream of water represented by dim stars in pairs and groups of three stars, to descend, ending in the bright star Fomalhaut, the mouth of the Southern Fish.

A rough map of South America can be traced in the stars , , , , 88, .

A rude dipper can be made out in the western part of the constellation, formed of the stars , , , .

The stars and are doubles. Of the former pair, one is white, the other orange in color. Fomalhaut was the object of sunrise worship in the temple of Demeter at Eleusis in 500 B.C. The ancients called this region of the sky "the Sea."

In the vicinity of , Mayer observed in 1756 what he termed a fixed star. Herschel thought it a comet. It proved to be the planet Uranus.

is almost exactly on the celestial equator.