CHAPTER III.

CONSTELLATIONS ON THE MERIDIAN IN JANUARY.

TAURUS (THE BULL).—MAP III.

62. TAURUS is represented in an attitude of rage, as if abcut to plunge at Orion, who seems to invite the onset by provocations of assault and defiance. Only the head and shoulders of the animal are to be seen; but these are so distinctly marked that they cannot be mistaken.

The constellations which pass our meridian in the months of January, February and March, present to us the most brilliant and interesting portion of the heavens; embrac ing an annual number of stars of the highest order and brightness, all so conspicuously situated, that the most inexperienced can easily trace them out.

63. Taurus is now the second sign and third constellation of the Zodiac; but anterior to the time of Abraham, or more than 4000 years ago, the vernal equinox took place, and the year opened when the sun was in Taurus; and the Bull, for the space of 2000 years, was the prince and leader of the celestial host. The Ram succeeded next, and now the Fishes lead the year. The head of Taurus sets with the sun about the last of May, when the opposite constellation, the Scorpion, is seen to rise in the S. E. It is situated between Perseus and Auriga on the north, Gemini on the east, Orion and Eridanus on the south, and Aries on the west, having a mean declination of 16° N.

64. Taurus contains 141 visible stars, including two remarkable clusters called the PLEIADES and HYADES. The first is now on the shoulder, and the latter in the face of the Bull. The names of the Pleiades are Alcione, Merope, Maia, Electra, Tayeta, Sterope and Celeno. Merope was the only one who married a mortal, and on that account her star is dim among her sisters. Although but six of these are visible to the naked eye, yet Dr. Hook informs us that, with a twelve feet telescope, he saw 78 stars; and Rheita affirms that he counted 200 stars in this small cluster. For its appearance through an ordinary telescope, see Map VIII., Fig. 28.

The most ancient authors, such as Homer, Attalus, and Geminus, counted only si Pleiades; but Simonides, Varro, Pliny, Aratus, Hipparchus, and Ptolemy, reckon them

62. How is Taurus represented? How much of him seen? What constellations most brilliant? 63. In what sign is Taurus? What constellation? How 4000 years ago? What next led the year? What now? At what time does Taurus set with the sun? How situated? 64. How many visible stars in Taurus? Clusters? How situated? Names of the Pleiades? What said of Merope? How many of the Pleiades visible to the naked eye? Dr. Hook and Rheita? Ancient authors?

Beven in number; and it was asserted, that the seventh had been seen before the burning of Troy; but this difference might arise from the difference in distinguishing them with the naked eye.

65. The Pleiades are so called from the Greek word, πλɛɛƖ pleein, to sail; because at this season of the year, they were considered "the star of the ocean" to the benighted mariner.

Virgil who flourished 1200 years before the invention of the magnetic needle, says that the stars were relied upon, in the first ages of nautical enterprise, to guide the rude bark over the seas.

"Tunc alnos primum fluvii sensere cavatas;

Navita tum stellis numeros, et nomina fecit,
Pleiadas, Hyadas, claramque Lycaonis Arcton."
"Then first on seas the shallow alder swam;

Then sailors quarter'd heaven, and found a name
For every fix'd and every wand'ring star-
The Pleiades, Hyades, and the Northern Car."

The same poet also escribes Palinurus, the renowned pilot of the Trojan fleet, as watching the face of the nocturnal heavens.

"Sidera cuncta notat tacito labentia cœlo,

Arcturum, pluviasque Hyadas, geminosque Triones,
Armatumque auro circumspicit Oriona."

Observe the stars, and notes their sliding course,
The Pleiades, Hyades, and their wat'ry force;
And both the Bears is careful to behold,

And bright Orion, arm'd with burnished gold."

Indeed, this sagacious pilot was once so intent in gazing upon the stars while at the helm, that he fell overboard, and was lost to his companions.

"Headlong he fell, and struggling in the main,
Cried out for helping hands, but cried in vain.”

66. Alcyone, of the 3d magnitude, being the brightest star in this cluster, is sometimes called the light of the Pleiades. The other five are principally of the 4th and 5th magnitudes. The Pleiades, or, as they are more familiarly termed, the seven stars, come to the meridian 10 minutes before 9 o'clock, on the evening of the 1st of January, and may serve in place of the sun, to indicate the time, and as a guide to the surrounding stars.

According to Hesiod, who wrote about 900 years before the birth of our Savior, the heliacal rising of the Pleiades took place on the 11th of May, about the time of harvest

Thus, in all ages, for seasons."

"When, Atlas-born, the Pleiad stars arise
Before the sun above the dawning skies,

'Tis time to reap; and when they sink below
The morn-illumined west, 'tis time to sow."

have the stars been observed by the husbandman, for "signs and

Pliny says that Thales, the Miletan astronomer, determined the cosmical setting of the Pleiades to be 25 days after the autumnal equinox. This would make a difference between the setting at that time and the present, of 35 days, and as a day answers to about 59' of the ecliptic, these days will make 34° 25'. This divided by the annual precession (504"), will give 2465 years since the time of Thales. Thus does astronomy become the parent of chronology.

66. What said

65. Why Pleiades so called? Remark, and quotations from Virgil? of Alcyone? Of the other five? When on the meridian? Serve what purpose? Period, and remark of Hesiod? Of Pliny? What calculation respecting the passage of tha Pleiades over the meridian?

If it be borne in mind that the stars uniformly rise, come to the meridian, and set about four minutes earlier every succeeding night, it will be very easy to determine at what time the seven stars pass the meridian on any night subsequent or antecedent to the 1st of January. For example: at what time will the seven stars culminate on the 5th of January? Multiply the 5 days by 4, and take the result from the time they culminate on the 1st, and it will give 30 minutes after 8 o'clock in the evening.

66

67. The Pleiades are also sometimes called Vergilia, or the 'Virgins of Spring;" because the sun enters this cluster in the season of blossoms," about the 18th or May. He who made them alludes to this circumstance when he demands of Job: "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades,” &c — (Job 38: 31.)

The Syrian name of the Pleiades is Succoth, or Succoth-Benoth, derived from a Chaidaic word, which signifies "to speculate, to observe," and the "Men of Succoth" (2 Kings 17: 30) have been thence considered observers of the stars.

68. The Hyades are situated 11° S. E. of the Pleiades, in the face of the Bull, and may be readily distinguished by means of five stars so placed as to form the letter V. (Map VIII., Fig. 29.) The most brilliant star is on the left, in the top of the letter, and called Aldebaran; from which the moon's distance is computed.

"A star of the first magnitude illumes
His radiant head; and of the second rank,
Another beams not far remote."

The ancient Greeks counted seven in this cluster:

"The Bull's head shines with seven refulgent flames,
Which, Grecia, Hyades, from their showering names."

69. Aldebaran is of Arabic origin, and takes its name from two words which signify, "He went before, or led the way"— alluding to that period in the history of astronomy when this star led up the starry host from the vernal equinox. It comes to the meridian at 9 o'clock on the 10th of January, or 48 minutes after Alcyone, on the 1st. When Aries is about 27 high, Aldebaran is just rising to the east. So MANILIUS :

"Thus, when the Ram hath doubled ten degrees,

And join'd seven more, then rise the Hyades."

A line 15% E. N. E. of Aldebaran will point out a bright star of the 2d magnitude in the extremity of the northern horn, marked Beta or El Nath; (this star is also in the foot of Auriga, and is common to both constellations.) From Beta in the northern horn, to Zeta, in the tip of the southern horn, it is 8°, in a southerly direction. This star forms a right angle with Aldebaran and Beta. Beta and Zeta, then, in the button of the horus, are in a line nearly north and south, 8° apart, with the brightest on the north That very bright star 17° N. of Beta, is Capella, in the constellation Auriga.

67. What other name have the Pleiades, and why? Citation from Job? Syrian name? 68. Where are the Hyades situated? How known? Where the most brilliant star? Name? Are they shown on the map? 69. Origin and import of the name Aldebaran? When does it come to the meridian at 9 o'clock p.m.? Where is Beta? In what other coastellation? Zeta, and its distance? How situated with reference to Akebarar, and Beta? How Beta and Zeta? Capella?

HISTORY.

According to the Grecian mythology, this is the animal which bore Europa over the seas to that country which derived from her its name. She was the daughter of Agenor and princess of Phoenicia. She was so beautiful that Jupiter became enamoured of her and assuming the shape of a snow-white bull, he mingled with the herds of Agenor, while Europa, with her female attendants, were gathering flowers in the meadows. Europa caressed the beautiful animal, and at last had the courage to sit upon his back. The god now took advantage of her situation, and with precipitate steps retired towards the shore, and crossed the sea with Europa upon his back, and arrived safe in Crete. Some suppose she lived about 1552 years before the Christian Era. It is probable, however, that this constellation had a place in the Zodiac before the Greeks began to cultivate a knowledge of the stars; and that it was rather an invention of the Egyptians or Chaldeans. Both the Egyptians and Persians worshipped a deity under this figure, by the name of Apis; and Belzoni is said to have found an embalmed bull in one of the notable sepulchres near Thebes.

In the Hebrew Zodiac, Taurus is ascribed to Joseph.

The Pleiades, according to fable, were the seven daughters of Atlas and the nymp Pleione, who were turned into stars, with their sisters the Hyades, on account of their amiable virtues and mutual affection.

Thus we everywhere find that the ancients, with all their barbarism and idolatry, entertained the belief that unblemished virtue and a meritorious life would meet their reward in the sky. Thus Virgil represents Magnus Apollo as bending from the sky to address the youth Iulus:

"Macte nova virtute puer; sic itur ad astra;
Diis genite, et geniture Deos."

"Go on, spotless boy, in the paths of virtue; it is the way to the stars; offspring of the gods thyself-so shalt thou become the father of gods."

Our disgust at their superstitions may be in some measure mitigated, by seriously reflecting, that had some of these personages lived in our day, they had been ornaments in the Christian Church, and models of social virtue.

TELESCOPIC OBJECTS.

1. a TAURI (Aldebaran)—A star of the first magnitude with a telescopic companion R. A. 4h. 26m. 44s.; Dec. N. 16° 10' 9". A 1, pale rose tint; B 12, sky blue.

2. ẞ TAURI (El Nath)-R. A. 5h. 16m. 11s.; Dec. N. 28° 28'. distant companion. A 2, brilliant white; B 10, pale grey.

A fine star, with a

8. Y TAURI-One of the Hyades; R. A. 4h. 10m. 41s.; Dec. 11° 14' 1". with a distant telescopic companion; A 8%, yellow; B 11, pale blue.

A bright star,

4. 7 TAURI (Alcyone)-One of the Pleiades; R. A. Sh. 37m. 57s.; Dec. N. 23° 36′ 3′′. A 3, greenish yellow; B, pale white and distant.

5. A NEBULOUS STAR; R. A. 3h. 59m. 06s.; Dec. N. 30° 20′ 5′′. A star of the eighth magnitude, with a faint luminous atmosphere surrounding it, and about 3' in diameter. This star and nebula led Sir William Herschel to adopt his Nebula Theory, or theory of condensation of gas or nebulous matter, into suns and worlds.

6. A LARGE NEBULA; R. A. 5h. 24m. 51s.; Dec. N. 21° 54' 2". It is about one degree north-west of in the tip of the Bull's southern horn. It is an oval form, with several minute telescopic stars in its vicinity. For drawing, see Map VIII., Fig 30.

Of the Pleiades and Hyades, two prominent clusters, we have spoken at 64, 65.

ORION.-MAP III.

70. Whoever looks up to this constellation and learns its aame, will never forget it. It is too beautifully splendid to need a description. When it is on the meridian, there is then above

HISTORY.-Story of Europa and Jupiter? What probability? What said of the Egyptians and Persians? Hebrew zodiacs? Fabulous paternity of the Pleiades? Why ¡urned into stars? What remarks respecting the ancients?

TELESCOPIC OBJECTS.-Alpha? Beta? Gamma: Eta? Nebulæ? Point out on the 70. What is said of Orion? Of the view when on the meridian? How is Crion repre

map.

the horizon the most magnificent view of the celestial bodies that the starry firmament affords; and it is visible to all the habitable world, because the equinoctial passes through the middle of the constellation. It is represented on celestial maps by the figure of a man in the attitude of assaulting the Bull, with a sword in his belt, a huge club in his right hand, and the skin of a lion in his left, to serve for a shield.

Manilius, a Latin poet, who composed five books on astronomy a short time before the birth of our Saviour, thus describes its appearance :

"First next the Twins, see great Orion rise,

His arms extended stretch o'er half the skies;
His stride as large, and with a steady pace
He marches on, and measures a vast space;
On each broad shoulder a bright star display'd,
And three obliquely grace his hanging blade.
In his vast head, immers'd in boundless spheres,
Three stars, less bright, but yet as great, he bears,
But farther off removed, their splendor's lost;

Thus graced and arm'd he leads the starry host."

71. The centre of the constellation is midway between the poles of the heavens and directly over the equator. It is also about 8° W. of the solstitial colure, and comes to the meridian about the 23d of January. The whole number of visible stars in this constellation is 78; of which, two are of the first magnitude, four of the 2d, three of the 3d, and fifteen of the 4th.

72. Those four brilliant stars in the form of a long square or parallelogram, intersected in the middle by the "Three Stars," or "Ell and Yard," about 25° S. of the Bull's horns, form the outlines of Orion. The two upper stars in the parallelogram are about 15° N. of the two lower ones; and, being placed on each shoulder, may be called the epaulets of Orion. The brightest of the two lower ones is in the left foot, on the W., and the other which is the least brilliant of the four, in the right knee. To be more particular; Bellatrix is a star of the 2d magnitude on the W. shoulder; Betelguese is a star of the 1st magnitude, 7 E. of Bellatrix, ou the E. shoulder. It is brighter than Bellatrix, and lies a little farther toward the north; and comes to the meridian 30 minutes after it, on the 21st of January. These two form the upper end of the parallelogram.

73. Rigel is a splended star of the 1st magnitude, in the left foot, on the W. and 15° S. of Bellatrix. Saiph is a star of the 3d magnitude, in the right knee, 81° E. of Rigel. These two form the lower end of the parallelogram.

sented on the maps? How described by Manilius? 71. Situation of Orion? Number of visible stars? Magnitudes? 72. What is the Ell and Yard? What constitutes the outline of Orion? Where is Bellatrix? Betelguese and magnitude? 78. Rigel! Suiph