CONSTELLATIONS

The ancients, when studying the heavens, saw all kinds of imaginary animals in the various star-groups, and named them accordingly. A constellation is really a group of stars, which seems to constitute a sort of system of its own. Thus, we find reference to the Great Bear, the Little Bear, the Bull, etc. It is difficult for the uninitiated to see the resemblances which the ancients did, in these various star-groups, and astronomical science has re-named them, as well as adding a large number of new constellations to those already known.

Stars of the first six magnitudes (roughly) are visible to the unaided eye; those of lesser magnitude must be detected by the aid of telescopes. About 5,000 are thus visible; the number is increased according to the magnifying power of the telescope used, and it is estimated that there are more than 100,000,000 within the range of visual and photographic instruments!

The names of a few of the best known constellations are as follows: Ursa Major (The Great Bear); Cassiopeia; Hercules; Scorpio (the Scorpion); Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown); Boötes (The Hunter); Leo (the Lion); Andromeda; Perseus; Auriga (The Charioteer); Taurus (the Bull); Orion; Canis Major (The Great Dog); Canis Minor (The Smaller Dog); Gemini (the Twins), etc.

In these various constellations, certain noted stars are to be found. Thus, in Gemini, its two principal stars are Castor and Pollux. In Canis Major is Sirius. In Orion may be found Aldebaran and Betelgeuse. The Pleiades and Hyades groups are in Taurus. In Perseus is Algol. In Lyra is the first-magnitude star Vega. And so on.

The “Big Dipper,” so-called, is part of the Constellation Ursa Major; and it is almost universally known that the Pole Star (Polaris) may readily be found by its means. The constellations must be traced and learned, one by one; but this the student must accomplish for himself!