Sidebilder
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

D. H. M. S.

7 13 4 30 E. &c. We perceive these occurrences are given in Astronomical time: thus, the first above is equal to our 4m. 30s. past one in the morning of the 8th day.

NB. The Configurations, or relative positions of Jupiter and his Satellites, at a certain convenient hour of every day of every month, (when he is visible,) are given, with full explanation, on the II. SAT. Im. Em. 19th page of the month's events in the Nautical Almanac.

The letter I or E, affixed to the time given, signifies Immersion or Emersion; (see def. 58).

[blocks in formation]

106. NEBULA, (Lat., a mist or fog,) is a term applied to patches of pale light, of which some are visible to the naked eye, and multitudes by means of the telescope.

Some of these are easily resolvable into stars: others cannot be resolved by the best telescopes. Thus, the stars of the white speck "Præsepe," in the constellation Cancer, can be separated by an ordinary night-glass; whilst one of similar appearance to the naked eye, in the Girdle of Andromeda, retains its nebulosity in the most powerful instruments. A hazy light surrounds some stars, which are on this account termed nebulous.

107. GALAXY, Or Milky Way, (yaλağıas), is a nebulous Zone, of unequal width, encircling the celestial sphere, and found to derive its light from the myriads of stars which compose it. It probably constitutes our firmament, the brighter stars of our sky being our nearest neighbours, and our sun and its system being situate about midway between the confines of this zone. The scattered nebulæ seen in other portions of the sky, are conceived to constitute similar firmaments.

LIST OF CONSTELLATIONS.

The object in introducing a list of Constellations in this place, being to facilitate the knowledge of their positions on the globe and in the heavens, the author has deviated from the arrangements usually made, judging that, with the assistance given in the appendix, a catalogue of this form is more likely to answer the purpose. (See "Rhymes on the Constellations.") The Signs of the Zodiac have already been given separately in Definition 70.

CONSTELLATIONS,

Parts of which coincide with the Equinoctial, with their extents in

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

CONSTELLATIONS NORTH OF THE EQUINOCTIAL, Between east portion of Pisces and the North Pole, are: Andromeda.... 66

[blocks in formation]

Mirach 2, Almaach 2.
Schedir 3.

Between the Head of Cetus and North Pole.

Triangulum (Ma- }

jor and Minor) Musca.

66 The Ram......

11 The Triangle

[blocks in formation]

6 The Fly

Head of Medusa

and Perseus

10 The Rein-Deer

a Arietis 2.

Between the Belt of Orion and North Pole.

Algol 2, Algenib 2.

S The Bull (horns .141 of

66 The Waggoner

Aldebaran 1, Pleiades,
Hyades.
Capella 1.

Auriga.....

*Camelopardalis 58 The Camelopard

Between Mid-back of Monoceros and North Pole.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Between Head of Hydra and Sextans and North Pole. Cancer...... 83 The Crab......

.....

Acubene 4.

Leo Major .... 95 The greater Lion Regulus, or Cor Leonis 1,

{

Deneb 2.

Those marked thus are modern constellations.

[blocks in formation]

Between Shoulder of Virgo and North Pole.

Coma Berenices 43 Berenice's Hair

3 Charles's Heart}

Canes Venatici 25 Hounds

*Cor Caroli

[blocks in formation]

Cor Caroli.

Between Beam of Libra and North Pole.

64 The Serpent

Corona Borealis 21

Part of Draco.. 80

Arcturus 1, Mirach 3.

Northern

.....

The
Crown
The Dragon

Ursa Minor.... 24 The less Bear.

[ocr errors]

Between Head of Serpentarius

[blocks in formation]

Alphacca 2.

Rastaben 2.

Stella Polaris 2, (Pole-star.)

and North Pole. Hercules and the Ras Algethi 3. three-headed dog S

Draco (head of) 80 The Dragon....

Delphinus

Rastaben 2.

Between Aquila and Antinöus and North Pole.

*Vulpecula et An

[blocks in formation]

The Dolphin
The Fox and the

37

ser

Lyra...
Cygnus.

Goose

Vega or Wega, 1.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

"The general aspect of the southern circumpolar region, is, in a high degree, rich and magnificent, owing to the superior brilliancy and larger development of the Milky Way, which, from the constellation of Orion to that of Antinöus,* is in a blaze of light, strangely interrupted, however, with vacant and almost starless patches, especially in Scorpio, near a Centauri and the Cross; while to the north it fades away pale and dim, and is, in comparison, hardly traceable." -Sir John Herschel.

*

"As our merry little ship approached the far-famed Cape of Good Hope, I often remained on deck after the watch was out, feasting my eyes on the sight of constellations known to me before only by name, * the Peacock, with a forehead glowing like Aldebaran * *the huge ship Argo, ranging across the southern heavens, with a star of the first magnitude flaming in the blade of one i. e. all the southern portion of the Galaxy.

[blocks in formation]

of her oars. * But of all the Antarctic Constellations, the celebrated Southern Cross, is by far the most remarkable ** This constellation, being about thirty degrees from the South Pole, is seen in its whole revolution; and accordingly, when off the Cape, I have observed it in every stage, from its triumphant erect position, between sixty and seventy degrees above the horizon, to that of complete inversion, with the top beneath and almost touching the water." -Captain Hall's Fragments, 2d. Series, Vol. 2.

CONSTELLATIONS SOUTH OF THE EQUINOCTIAL,
Between Pisces (tail of west Fish) and the South Pole are :

[blocks in formation]

Between Head of Hydra and Sextans and South Pole.

Part of Hydra

*Machina Pneu

matica.....

}

3 The Air Pump

« ForrigeFortsett »