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BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY

HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE

How to

identify the stars,

3 1924

012 311 472

Cornell University Library

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tine

original of

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book

is in

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There are no known copyright

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text.

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HOW TO

IDENTIFY THE STARS

The.

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

NEW YORK
ATLANTA

BOSTON - CHICAGO SAN FRANCISCO

MACMILLAN &
LONDON

CO., Limited BOMBAY CALCUTTA MELBOURNE

THE MACMILLAN

CO. OF TORONTO

CANADA,

Ltd.

HOW TO

IDENTIFY

THE STARS
BY

WILLIS

I.

MILHAM,

Ph.D.

FIELD MEMOKIAL PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY

IN WILLIAMS COLLEGE

THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

1909
r

All fHgkts reserved

COPYKIGHT, 1909,

By

the MACMILLAN COMPANY.

electrotyped.

Set

up and

Published June, 1909.

Norlnoal)
J. S.

^nss

Cuihing Co. Berwick Jt Smith Co. Norwood. Mu>., U.S. A.

CONTENTS
FAGE
I.

Introduction

II.

The History and Number of the Constellations

3
.
.

III.

The Methods of Designating a Star

Star Magnitudes Star Colors

12
15

IV.

V.
VI.
VII.

The Number of the Stars

Constellations

....

20
21

The Method of Locating the Stars and

23
.

VIII.

The Method of Further Study

33

I.

INTRODUCTION
more
brilliant

The
stars

ability to recognize the

and

to locate the

more conspicuous conis

stellations or star groups,

both an interest-

ing and a useful acquirement.

The number
popular

of
as-

people

who have a
fair

real interest in

tronomy and a

acquaintance with the stars

is

and constellations

steadily increasing

and

they find real pleasure in their information.

the meteorologist

To
Au-

who would make

observa-

tions of the position of the streamers of the

rora Borealis or locate the place of the appear-

ance and disappearance of bright meteors, a

knowledge

of

the stars and constellations

is

absolutely necessary.

The

best

way

to locate

the position of an auroral streamer without the

use of apparatus

is

to observe the stars

it

between

which and over which

extends.

Similarly the

point of appearance and disappearance of a meteor has been definitely determined

est star in each case has
if

the nearIf

been noted.

great

HOW TO
is

IDENTIFY THE STARS

exactness
direction

desired, the angular distance

and

of

the point in question from the

nearest star
object
is

may

be estimated.

Whenever an

thus located by means of the stars, the

exact time of observation and the place of observation

(latitude,

longitude,

and

elevation)

must

also be stated.
at

From such

observations
stations,

made

two,

preferably more,

the

distance,
display,

height,

and direction

of

an auroral
of

and the distance, height, direction

motion, velocity of motion, and orbit in space

of a
tion.

meteor may be determined by computa-

The purpose of

the constellation tracings and

is

the descriptive material here given,

to serve

as a guide in taking the first steps in learning

the stars and constellations and also to point the

tion

way

to the acquisition of further informait.

on the part of those who desire

The

method here followed and the material presented is essentially the same as that used in the course
on Descriptive Astronomy
in

Williams College.

II.

THE HISTORY AND NUMBER OF THE CONSTELLATIONS

first

The

definite information

concerning the
at

constellations

comes from Claudius Ptolemy

a great systematizer of
the

the Alexandrian School of Philosophy in about

150 A.D.

He was

in-

formation and summarized

learning of his time.
the Greek are
his
lost,

astronomical
in

His original writings

but an Arabic translation of

manuscript on Astronomy, called the "Al-

magest," has

come down
15

to us.

In

it

he enu-

merates, describes, and locates 48 constellations

21

northern,

southern,

and

12

zodiacal.

These

constellations

by no means covered the

of the

whole sky, as a large part

southern hemi-

sphere was not mapped and there were often

unmapped spaces between

the constellations.

As

the centuries passed, the need of

more con-

stellations

became apparent, but

it

was considlist.

ered sacrilegious to add to the Ptolemaic

Finally, in 1601,

two constellations were added

3

HOW TO

IDENTIFY THE STARS

This opened the way, and for
of note

by Tycho Brahe.
considered

two centuries nearly every astronomer

it

his duty to

map

a group of stars
of bis

and give
ing.

to the

group a name

own

choos-

Thus by 1800 there were at fairly well known constellations, and a

stellation

least

109

large con-

(Argo) in the southern hemisphere

into four, thus

was divided

making
for

112.

difficulties w^ere

now

as great as before

The new

constellations

had been added,

some

of the

constellations overlapped

and names had been

given to some of th&m which could never be-

come

international.

Graduall)^ by practically

common

consent, 24 were dropped, so that at

present there are 88 constellations.

The

ac-

companying
lations

list

shows the number

of constel-

added by each astronomer.

mSTORY OF THE CONSTELLATIONS

140 A.D.

HOW TO

IDENTIFY THE ST.\RS

northern constellations.

Some

of the

southern

constellations have boundaries

which are for

considerable distances arcs of great or small

circles.

The
size,

constellations are also of very

unequal

some being ten times

list

as large

as others.

The
name,

following

contains the

names

of

the constellations, the Latin genitive of the

the

meaning

of

the

name,

and the
:

name

of the originator of the constellation

Name

HISTORY OF THE CONSTELLATIONS

Name

HOW TO
Name
Erid'-anus

IDENTIFY THE STARS

Meaning
Pkoposer

Genitive
Erid'-ani

The

river

Ptolemy

For'-nax

Forna'-cis

Furnace

La

Caille

Gem'-ini

Gemino'-rum
Gru'-is

Twins
CrEine

Ptolemy
Bayer

Grus
Her'-cules

Her'-culis

Hercules

Ptolemy

Horolo'-gium

Horolo'-gii

Clock

La -Caille
Ptolemy
Bayer Bayer
Hevelius

Hy'-dra
Hy'-drus
In'-dus
Lacer'-ta

Hy'-drae

Snake

Hy'-dri
In'-di

Water snake
Indian
Lizard

Lacer'-tse

Le'-o
Le'-o Mi'-nor

Leo'-nis

Lion
Lesser lion

Ptolemy
Hevelius

Leo'-nis
Mino'-ris

Le'-pus
Li'-bra

Lep'-oris
Li'-brae

Hare
Balance

Ptolemy Ptolemy

Lu'-pus

Lu'-pi
Lyn'-cis
Ly'-rse

Wolf

Ptolemy
Hevelius

Lynx
Ly'-ra

Lynx

Harp
Mast
Table

Ptolemy

Ma'-lus

Ma'-li

La

Caille
Caille

Men'-sa
Microsco'-

Men'-sse
Microsco'-pii

Microscope

La La

Caille

pium
Monoc'-eros
Monocero'-tis

Unicorn

Hevelius or
Bartschius

Mus'-ca

Mus'-cse

Fly

Bayer

Nor'-ma
Oc'-tans

Nor'-mae
Octan'-tis

Rule
Octant
Serpent
carrier

La La

Caille

Caille

Ophiu'-chus

Ophiu'-chi

Ptolemy Ptolemy

Ori'-on

Orio'-nis

Orion

HISTORY OF THE CONSTELLATIONS

Name

10

HOW TO
It will

IDENTIFY THE STARS

be seen that there are three kinds of

;

names used

names

of

animals,

names
of

bor-

rowed from mythology, and names

of apparatus.

pieces

When

and where

the

constellations

were

originally designed are questions

which have

received a great deal of attention and study.

This subject can be merely sketched in

line here.

out-

The

list

of

48 constellations given

by Ptolemy was by no means original with

him, but was simply a slight revision of an
earlier list

by Hipparchus, date about 140

b.c.

And
poem
But

even before his time a

fairly full descrip-

tion of the constellations can be found in the

of
this

Aratus of

Soli,

date about 280

of

b.c.

was

simply a versification

an 370

earlier astronomical
B.C.,

work by Eudoxus
as

in

and

this in

turn,

not based on observations

we now know, was made by the Greeks,

thousand
years
old.

but on astronomical information that was at

that

time at least

two

There are three sources

ternal evidence

of information as to
first,

the origin of the constellations:

the

in-

selves

from the constellations themsecondly, the documentary evidence in


HISTORY OF THE CONSTELLATIONS
thirdly, the inscriptions

ii

the form of references in the early writings;

on monuments,

tablets,
dis-

coins, etc.,

which are continually being

covered.

The

originators of the constellations

naturally portrayed the things with which they

were

familiar.

The

elephant, camel, tiger, and

crocodile

are

not represented.

This would
possible places
left

exclude India and

of

Egypt

as

origin.

The

portion of the sky

un-

mapped shows the portion of the sky not They must thus have lived visible to them.
in of

about 38 north latitude.

In short,

all lines

evidence show that the constellations prob-

ably originated in the Euphrates valley, and

were practically complete as early as 3000

B.C.

What we have
Greek digest

is

thus the Latin form of a

of very early information.

For
the

further information
constellations, see

about the origin

of

BROWN,
gate,

Primitive Constellations ;

Williams and Nor-

London, 1899.

LOCKYER,
Company, 1894.

The

Dawn

of Astronomy ; The Macmillan

MAUNDER,
"Knowledge"

Office,

Astronomy without a London, 1902.

Telescope,
.

Chapter I

MAUNDER,

The Oldest Picture-book of All; The Nine-

teenth Century Magazine, September, 1900.

III.

THE METHODS OF DESIGNATING A STAR

oldest,

The
its

but

now

obsolete,

method

of

designating a particular star was to describe

position in the constellation.

The

portion

of the

sky belonging to a certain constellation

was supposed to be covered by a representation or picture of the thing after constellation

which the
star

was named.

Thus a
of

might

be described as located "in the head of Hercules" or "in the right knee
"in the horn of the bull."
still

Bootes" or
star charts

Many
in

give

those

old

pictures

connection

with the constellations.

There are four modern methods

ing a
star,

of designatof stars

(i)

By name.

Hundreds

have received individual names, but

a hundred of these are

less

than

now

in

general use.

They
origin,

are usually of Latin, Greek, or Arabic

and are either proper names or de-

scribe position.

For example: Regulus, Spica,


THE METHODS OF DESIGNATING A STAR
Aldebaran.
(2)
13

By means

of a letter.

In 1603

Bayer introduced the system of designating

the stars in a constellation by
letters in the

means
These

of the
are, in

Greek alphabet.

order

a alpha

14

HOW TO

IDENTIFY THE STARS

lettered,

fainter stars

which had not been

and

they were numbered in order of position from

west to

east.
(4)

For example:

6i

Cygni, 50
In
the
in a

Cassiopeiae.

By

catalogue
stars
all
is

number.
visible

the case of

some

faint

to

naked

eye,

and nearly

stars

visible

telescope only, the star

designated as having
It

a certain
is

number
first

in a certain catalogue.

usually the

catalogue in which

it

oc-

curred or some very well

sive

known comprehenGroombridge

catalogue.

For example:

966, B.A.C. 4536.

The

last three of

the four

modern methods
brighter stars
fainter,

seldom overlap

at present.

The

are usually lettered.

Those which are

naked

but

still

visible to the

eye, are usually

referred
If

numbered, while telescopic stars are

to simply

by catalogue and number.

is

a star

has a proper name, this

addition to the Bayer

usually given in

letter.

IV.

STAR MAGNITUDES
"

The
star

term

magnitude
its

"

when

applied to a

refers

simply to

brightness and not

to

its

volume or mass.

Ptolemy

arbitrarily

graded the stars visible to the naked eye into

six classes or magnitudes, the sixth
faintest

being the

and

the

first

the

brightest.

The

reason for having six magnitudes rather than

more
to

is

not known, unless

it

is

because the
is

eye without the help of instruments

unable
tele-

make

finer

distinctions.

After the
of

scope was

invented,

the

number

magni-

tudes had to be

increased so as to include

these faint telescopic stars, but there

was no
in

uniformity

among

different

observers

ex-

tending the system.

nitude of a faint
star,

As

the result, the mag-

as determined

by

differ-

ent observers, might differ by even two or

three.
it

As measurements became more

became

exact,

also

desirable to subdivide magni-

tudes,
'S

i6

HOW TO
It

IDENTIFY THE STARS

for

had been noticed

some time
first

that,

roughly speaking, a star of the

magnitude
as a

was about one hundred times as bright

star of the sixth.

In 1850, Pogson proposed

to

make
Thus,

the Vioo, or 2.512, the uniform ratio

between successive magnitudes.

/5i

= Vioo

b^,

where

b^

is

the bright(J^

ness of a

first

magnitude

star

and

that of a

second.
Similarly,

STAR MAGNITUDES
the difference in magnitude.
formula,
if

17

By means

of this

the magnitudes of two stars are given,

the ratio of brightness

may be computed, and

if

the ratio of brightness and the magnitude of

one

star

is

given, the magnitude of the other

may be computed.
Example
{C
i.

If
is

the
2.4

magnitude

of

Mizar
of

Ursce Majoris)

and the magnitude

is 4.0,

Alkor

(g UrsEe Majoris)

find their ratio

of brightness.
logio ratio

= 0.4(4.0 2.4) = 0.4(1 .6) = 0.64. Ratio of brightness = 4.37.

2.

Example
magnitude.

If

a star

is

30 times as bright as
2.1, find its

Polaris (a Ursae Minoris),

magnitude

Iogio30 = 0.4(2.1-;!;),

1.477

= 0.84 0.4 ;r,

0.4^1;= -0.637,

x-= -1.59-

The magnitude

is

1.59,

and

this is the

mag-

nitude of Sirius (a Canis Majoris).

This definite system

gradually adopted, and
are expressed in
it.

of star

magnitudes was magnitudes

now Some

all star

star

must be con-

i8

HOW TO

IDENTIFY THE STARS

is,

sidered to be fundamental, that

definite

to

have a

unchanging magnitude, and the magmagnitude.

Polaris (a Ursae

nitudes of the other stars must be determined

in terms of
its

Minoris)
star.

is

usually taken as the fundamental

of

By means
and the

photometers
it,

all

other

stars are

compared with
ratio

either directly or
brightness,

indirectly,

of

and

thus the magnitude, determined.

of

The work
this

the Harvard College

Observatory in

connection has been particularly noteworthy.

Here the
stars of

actual standard
of

is

not Polaris but the

mean magnitude
about the

one hundred circumpolar

magnitude.
the naked

fifth

In this system of magnitudes,

eye can perceive stars of about the sixth magnitude

if

the air

is

clear

and

free

from haze.
is

One
that

disadvantage of the system

there
are
stars

the fact
first

brighter than the

2.51

magnitude.

A
first

star

times as bright as
of the

one

of

the

magnitude would be
of

o magnitude.
that

star 2.51 times as bright as

would be

the -i

magnitude.

Thus

for a very bright object a negative

magnitude

must be used.

There

is

one star which has

STAR MAGNITUDES

19

a negative magnitude, Sirius (a Canis Majoris)

1.6.

On

the

same

scale the

sun would have

a magnitude of 26.3.

The magnitudes
constant.

of stars

remain remarkably
stars in

There are only about 500

connection with which a variation in magni-

tude has been detected, and only about 50 of

these
are
in

visible

to

the

naked

eye.

The

change
in

magnitude may be a steady change

one direction, an irregular fluctuation, or a

If

periodic variation.
ular,

the fluctuation

is

irregIf

only the
is

limits

can be stated.

the

variation

periodic,

such facts as the limits

deter-

of the variation

and the period may be

mined.

V.

STAR COLORS
appear to us as white,
to

Most

of

the stars

although in a few cases the star appears

be tinged with color.

The

following

list

prob-

ably includes the various colors as they appear

to the

naked eye: greenish white, bluish

white,

white,

white, yellowish

orange-white, reddish

white.

Stars are sometimes said to be yellow,

orange, or red, but in every case the white pre-

dominates to such an extent that

it

is

really
is

only a tinge of the color in question that

perceived.

As
trum

seen through the telescope

colors

all

the spec-

may be

noticed, but in every case

they are strongly mixed with white.

The

causes of these differences in color are

differences in temperature
position.

and chemical com-

VI.

THE NUMBER OF THE STARS

opinion
is

The

often expressed that the stars

appear almost countless in number.

ter of fact the total

As a

mat-

number visible
time,

to the

naked

eye

is

only about 6,000.

Only one-half

of these

are visible at
of

any one

and a small amount

is

haze greatly reduces the number that

particularly

visible,

near the horizon.

Thus

on a night which would be considered clear

only about
said
before,

2,000 stars

are

visible.
is

As was
usually

the

sixth

magnitude

considered the limit of visibility to the naked

eye.
of

The

following table gives the

number
sec3'",

stars

between each magnitude.

The

ond

line of the table gives the values of

4x

where

is

the magnitude.
close.

The agreement

is

remarkably

Expressed in words, the law

would be that there are about three times as

many

stars in

each magnitude as in the pre-

ceding magnitude.
21

22

HOW TO
o

IDENTIFY THE STARS

Magnitude

VII.

THE METHOD OF LOCATING THE STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

of locating the stars

The method
stellations here

and conof the

advocated

is

by means

so-called constellation tracings.

Most
form

of

the

conspicuous constellations contain bright stars

which,

when connected by
as

lines,

figures,
etc.,

such

a triangle,
easily

square,

W,

sickle,

which are
ognized.

remembered and quickly

rec-

After these tracings have once been

falls

learned and noticed, as soon as the eye

upon

that part of the sky,

it

instinctively runs
is

through the tracing, and the constellation

thus recognized and
its stars

identified.

For

convenience in locating them, the 88 constellations

have been divided into four groups.

The

first

group consists

of

28 conspicuous

constellations with tracings.

The second group

contains the five constellations which are chiefly

conspicuous on account of a single very bright

star.

The

third

group
23

of

19 comprises the


24

HOW TO

IDENTIFY THE STARS

inconspicuous constellations, while the fourth

group contains the 36 constellations which

are too far south to be seen at
all

or well seen

from the United States.

The

following table

in four parts gives these four

stellations:

groups of con-

THE-

88

CONSTELLATIONS DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS

Tracings

I.

The 28 Conspicuous Constellations with

Andromeda

LOCATING THE STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

III.

25

The

19 Inconspicuous Constellations

Aquarius Camelopardalis

Eridanus

Hydra
Lacerta Leo Minor Lynx Monoceros
Pisces

Cancer
Capricornus Cepheus Cetus Coma Berenices

Crater Equuleus

Scutum
Sextans

Vulpecula
IV.

The 36 Southern

.Constellations

Antlia

26

HOW TO
Charts
I.

IDENTIFY THE STARS

to IV.

show the

position of the

constellations at 9 p.m. during January, April,

July,

and October,

During a following month

earlier,
later.

they would show the position two hours

and during a preceding month two hours

That

is,

stars

come

into the

same

position two

hours earlier after the lapse of a month.

28 conspicuous constellations and the

The

five with

single very bright stars are printed in small

capitals,

while the inconspicuous constellations

are printed in small letters.

In order to match

the sky, the chart

is

supposed to be held over

the head of an observer facing south.

for a convenient

Thus
posi-

hour of the evening, the

is

tion

of the

constellations

given for every

month
tion at

in the year.

In order to get the posiof the evening, only the

any other hour

apparent diurnal rotation of the heavens need

be taken account
Figures
i

of.

to

24 give the tracings and

infor-

mation about the 28 conspicuous constellations.

Andromeda and

Perseus, Aries and Triangu-

lum, Libra and Scorpius, Ophiuchus and Serpens, are represented

pair.

by one

figure for each

The

faint lines represent the tracings.

LOCATING THE STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

27

The arrow
in

points

to

the

north pole of the

heavens, and thus indicates for a constellation

any position how the tracing must be held

to

match the

sky.

Three symbols are used

to

represent the stars, depending upon their magnitude:

-+-

for

stars

having a magnitude of

1.4 or brighter;

for stars

having a magni for stars

tude between

1.5

and

3.4 inclusive;
3.5 or less.
its

having a magnitude of
nation
of

The

desig-

the

star

and

exact magnitude

according to the measurements made at the

Harvard College Observatory are

proper
color

stated.

The
its

name

of the star is also given,

if

and

if

not white, and,

variable, the limits

if

of the variation

and the period

periodic.

At

the bottom of each figure the right ascension

and declination

of the center of

each constella-

tion are indicated.^

^

Right ascension and declination are the coordinates in the

so-called equator system of coordinates.

The fundamental points

is,

of this system are the poles of the celestial sphere, that

points of no diurnal motion on the celestial sphere.

the

These are

the points where the earth's axis produced cuts the celestial
sphere.
noris).
It is

The north pole is located near Polaris (a Ursae MiThe celestial equator is a great circle 90" from the pole.
The
equator runs through the con-

the great circle in which the plane of the earth's equator

cuts the celestial sphere.

28

HOW TO
The
facts

IDENTIFY THE STARS

five constellations

concerning the

with a single very bright star are:

Bootes

o;

name, Arcturus

magnitude, 0.2;

color,

orange-white.

Canes Venatici
color, white.

o;

name. Cor Caroli

magnitude, 3.3

Canis Major
bluish white.

Canis
color,

a; name, name, Minor a

;

Sirius; magnitude,

1.6;

color,

Procyon

magnitude, 0.5

bluish
is

white.
fairly

(j8

Canis Minoris has a magnitude

of 3.1 and

conspicuous.

The

constellation could

perhaps have been represented by these two stars better

than by a single
Piscis Australis
star.)

o;

name, Fomalhaut

magnitude, 1.3;

color, orange-white.

Of the 19 inconspicuous constellations Cancer and Cepheus are perhaps the most easily
recognized.

There are two

stars in

Cepheus

stellations of Pisces, Cetus, Taurus, Orion,

Monoceros, Hydra,
Aquila,

Sextans,

Leo, Virgo,

Serpens,

Ophiuchus,

Aquarius.
to

The

great circles

drawn through the poles and perpendicular

the equator are called hour circles.

The
It is

starting point or origin

of coordinates

is

the vernal equinox, the point where the sun

crosses the equator

tion of Pisces.

on March
is

21.

located in the constella-

Declination
;

angular distance north or south

south.

of the equator

plus

when north and minus when

Right

ascension

is

the portion of the equator between the vernal equicircle

nox and the hour

through the point in question.

It

is

usually expressed in time

and runs from o

to 24 hours.

LOCATING THE STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

which catch the eye
Httle
first

29

and they are quite a

brighter than those near them.

These
3.3).

are a

(magnitude
is

2.6)

and

/8

(magnitude

Cancer

noticeable on account of the three

stars quite close together

which form a

little

equilateral triangle.

The

best

method

of building

up an acquaint-

ance with the stars and constellations from the

material here given

can only be suggested.

Most people know

stellations.
If
is

at least
is

two or three con-

that

the case, the best

method

of

procedure

to study first the constellations

which surround those which are already known.

Notice the tracing, determine where the constellation
is

with reference to those already

try

known, and then

the stars.
will

to pick
all

it

out

among

In this

way

of the constellations
If

become gradually known.

no

constella-

tions at all
start

are already familiar to the observer,

with those which are by far the most con-

spicuous.

These are probably

Ursa Major.

Aries, Auriga,

Cassiopeia, Leo,
pius,

Lyra, Orion, Pegasus, Scor-

Taurus,

Determine from
is

the charts where the constellation

located,

observe carefully the tracing, noting particu-

30

HOW TO
the

IDENTIFY THE STARS

of

larly

magnitudes

the

stars,
is
is

and then
be made

persevere until the constellation

recognized.
to

For example,

if

the attempt

to find the constellation of Taurus, fix firmly in

mind

before going out to observe the sky

is

that the tracing

a V, that all of the stars but

one are of about the same magnitude and only

moderately bright, and that the one bright
star
is

of the

first

magnitude and reddish

in

color.

As

these facts are sometimes forgotten

it is

while observing the sky,

to take with one the
electric

often convenient

tracings and a pocket

lamp

for illuminating them.

When
progress
struction

a beginning
is

has once been made,

usually easy.

single hour's
stars

in-

by one familiar with the

is

and

constellations ble

sufficient to give a considera-

amount
if

of information to a beginner, par-

ticularly

the charts and tracings have been

carefully studied previously.

Another

method

advocated

by some

for

building up an acquaintance with the stars and

constellations
est stars.
is

to start with the fifteen bright-

The

chief

facts

about these
table.

stars

have been given in a previous

Find

LOCATING THE STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

out,

31

by looking up the constellations on the

charts,

how many

of these are

visible at the

desired time of observation and in what part

of the

sky they are located.

until

Then

persevere

as before

these

have been recognized,

and from these as known points build up an

acquaintance with the surrounding stars and
constellations.

This method

of starting with

the bright stars can be used to the best ad-

vantage when the

days
old.

moon

is

from three

to

seven

The

light of the

moon

pales out

the fainter stars, thus

making

the bright ones

clear

more conspicuous.
less night is

perfectly

moon-

not the best time to begin obthe

servations, as

number

of

stars visible is

confusing.

Some

advocate trying to locate the stars

and constellations by identifying them when

rising or setting.

The
the

disadvantages of this
is

method

are

that

horizon

always more
rest of

hazy and cloud-covered than the

sky, and, secondly, that
of
it

the

confines

the time
of

observation

to

particular
at

hour

the
of

night
year.

and

is

impossible

some times

32

HOW TO
Any

IDENTIFY THE STARS

attempt to locate a star or constellation

its

by giving

direction

and distance from

known

point will be no
its

more

successful than

to notice

location on a chart.

VIII.

THE METHOD OF FURTHER STUDY

charts, figures,

The
first

and information given

and

above can serve only as a guide in taking the

steps in learning the stars
constella-

tions.

Further knowledge

is

both useful and

pleasant,

and to gain

it

the reader must be

referred to the
subject.

numerous books bearing on the

of

Some

these

books

will

be

indi-

cated here.

ALLEN,
information.

Star-names and their Meanings;

is

G. E. Stechert, 1899,
It

a veritable mine of

gives

the

meaning

of

the

names used

in connection with the stars

and

constellations,

numerous

extracts from the writused,

ings where these

names were

and the
color,

more important
etc.,

facts

such as magnitude,

about the chief stars in each constellation.

a

It is

compendium
are

of information,

but not a

book

to be read

through as a whole.
books,

There
D

two

MARTIN,

The

Friendly Stars;

Harper and Brothers, 1907,

33


34

HOW TO

IDENTIFY THE STARS

with the

and

SERVISS, Astronomy
to put in

Naked
at-

Eye;
tempt

Harper and Brothers, 1908, which

readable and attractive form

the facts concerning the stars and constellations.

The

last-named book also contains star

charts, giving the position of all stars

down

to

the sixth magnitude.

to

These are the two books

a book giving a popuis

recommend whenever

lar presentation of

the subject

desired.

Among
may
&
BALL,

the

modern

up-to-date star atlases

be mentioned:

Popular Guide

to the

Heavens; George

Philip

Son, London, 1905.

KLEIN,
1901.

Star Atlas; E.

& J. B. Young & Co., New York,

Gall

PECK, The
Inglis,

Observer's Atlas of the Heavens;

&

London, 1898.

UPTON, Star Atlas; Ginn & Company, 1896. MESSER, Stern- Atlas fiir Himmelsbeobachtungen ;
L. Ricker, Leipzig, 1902.

K.

star atlas

is

absolutely essential to one

to

who

desires to add

his

knowledge
the

of the stars

and constellations.
atlases

The
all

star charts in these

represent

constellations

with
of
all

their boundaries,
stars
visible

and give the location

the

to

naked

eye.

In addition

THE METHOD OF FURTHER STUDY

35

much

information

is

given

concerning star
stars,

magnitudes, double
colors, etc.

stars,

variable
of the

star

The meaning

names, how-

ever,

and the

historical side of the subject are

If it is

usually not treated.

desired to identify
is

an unknown

star,

the best method

carefully,

to estiits loca-

mate

its

magnitude

and note

tion with reference to several

constellations.

known

stars or

chart of this portion of the

sky
star

may

then be consulted, and the

unknown

can usually be readily identified and the

constellation to
If
it is

which

it

belongs determined.

desired to locate an inconspicuous star

or constellation, the best

method

is

to note

on

the appropriate chart

its

location with refer-

ence to several easily identified stars or constellations.

On

turning to the sky the incon-

spicuous object can usually be readily located

and

identified.

In this way, by means of star

information

atlases, one's

may be

indefinitely

extended.

Such
des

atlases as

ARGELANDER'S
Himmels
1899),

Atlas

N'ordlichen

Gestirnten

(2d edi-

tion

by'Kustner,

Bonn,

PETERS'S
Y.),

Celestial Charts (published at Canton, N.

36

HOW TO

IDEXTIFY THE STARS

are
useful

and the
desired

Uraiurmetria Argentina

only in connection with the telescope

is

when

it

to

identify all

the

stars,

perhaps

even to the ninth or tenth magnitude, within

a very small area such as the field of \iew
of

the telescope.
Lists of the constellations, the stars ^asible
to the
etc.,

naked

eye, colored stars, ^'ariable stars,

can also

be found in

CHAMBERS'S

Handbook of DescHptive and Practical Astronomy (The Clarendon Press, 1890) and

VALEXTIXER,
If

Handw'orterbuch

der As-

tronomic (Breslau, 1901).

the coordinates of a star, right ascension,
desired, they
list

and declination are

for a small selected

may

be found

of stars in Tlie

Ameri-

can Epiiemeris and Nautical Almunac, published each year at \\'ashington, or in the cor-

responding year books of the English, French,

and

German

governments.

AMBROXX,
aU
stars (7796

Sternverzeichnis (Julius Springer, Berlin, 1907)

also contains the coordinates of

in

all)

which are above the

information, however,

6.5 star
is

magnitude.

Such

desired not by

the observer

who

is

locating

an object by

THE METHOD OF FURTHER STUDY

means
is

37

of the stars, but

by the computer who

reducing the observations.

The

following

list

contains other valuable

books on the stars and constellations:

BURRITT,

Atlas designed

to

illustrate

the

Geography

of the Heavens;

New

York, 1835.

COTTAM,
DIEN,

Charts of the Constellations ; London, 1889.

Atlas Celeste; Paris, 1869.

GORE,
don,
1

Star Groups; Crosby Lockwood

&

Sons, Lon-

89

1.

HEIS, Atlas Coelestis Nouvus ; Cologne, 1872. HILL, The Stars and Constellations ; Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York, 1894. JEANS, Handbook for Finding the Stars; London, 1888.

JOHNSTON,
Grant)
;

School Atlas of Astronomy (revised by

G. P. Putnam's Sons,

New

York.

MAUNDER,
1902.

Astronomy without a Telescope; London,

PECK, The

Constellations

and how

to

find them; Gall

& Inglis,

London.

PORTER, The Stars in Song and Legend; Ginn & Company, New York, 1902. PROCTOR, Half-hours with the Stars; G. P. Putnam's
Sons, 1875.

SERVISS, Pleasures of
Company,
ton

the

Telescope;

D. Appleton

&

New York,

1905.
Opera-glass;

SERVISS, Astronomy with an & Company, New York, 1906.

in his

D. Apple-

YOUNG, Uranography, New York, 1890.

Elements of Astronomy;

38

HOW TO
star
atlases

IDENTIFY THE STARS

of

The

Burritt, Heis,

and Dien

are particularly interesting, as they give great

prominence

to the constellation figures, as

all

was

the case with

the older atlases.

CHART
January
1st,

r.

Dec.

1st, 11 1st, 7

p.m.
p.m.

9 p.m.

Feb.

p.m.

March

1st, 5

URSA MAJOB

CHART
April
1st,

II.

March

1st, 11 p.ra.

9 p.m.

May

Isl, 7 p.tn.

Ceptiens

'HERCULES
(pole)

CASSIOPEIA

CORONA
BOKEALIS

DRACO

PERSEUS

URSA MINOR

CamelopardaUs

BOOTES

URSA MAJOR

AUHIGA

CHART
July
1st, 9

III.

p.m.

June Isl, 11p.m. Au&ust 1st, 7 p.m.

CASSIOPEIA

camelopardalis
{pole,

Xacerta

Lynj.

Cepbeas

UKSA MTNOR

UESA MAJOR

CYGNUS

Leo Minor

DRACO

LYBA
DKLPHINUS (zenith) ,, Vulpecula HjjjcULES ^
, ,

CANES

TEN ATI CI
BOOTES

SACilTTA

Coma
Berenices

CORONA

AQmLA

BOKEALIS

Scutum
SAGITTARIUS

CHART

iv:

PERSEUS

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. io

1.6a^

Fig. 13

SCORPIUS

a Antares
16y2 h.

RW
Fig. 14

26

Fig. is

Fig. 17

PEGASUS
2.1 a

And.
/

/
/

TAURUS

o Aldebaran 4M h. 18Fig. 21

RW

URSA MAJOR

a
f

Uubhc
Mizar

c
o^

Alioth

Alkor

Fig. 22

Fig. 23

Fig. 24

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