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 The letter I or E, affixed to the time given, signifies Immersion or Emersion; (see def. (58). III. SAT. Emers. NB. The IV. Satellite does not enter Jupiter's shadow during the year 1840. 36 Almanac. SPECULUM PHÆNOMENORUM. APRIL. 2 Moon in conjunction with Mars, 16m.past 4 A.M. of the 3d. instant. MAY. 3 Jupiter in opposition 7 Mercury at his inferior conjunction, i. e., nearly between us and the sun, 15m. 11 past 10 P.M. 10 Pallas's quartile aspect, or three signs from the sun, 4 P.M. 20 16 Mercury in his descending node, or crossing the ecliptic to make S. latitude. 30 Saturn's ring, 401" long and 18" wide. Mars in his ascend- [WHITE. JUNE. 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. 66 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 CONSTELLATIONS NORTH OF THE EQUINOCTIAL, Between east portion of Pisces and the North Pole, are : Andromeda... 66 Mirach 2, Almaach 2. Between the Head of Cetus and North Pole. Taurus.... Auriga... Head of Medusa Algol 2, Algenib 2. and Perseus 10 The Rein-Deer Between the Belt of Orion and North Pole. {The Bull (horns Aldebaran 1, Pleiades, 141 of) 66 The Waggoner *Camelopardalis 58 The Camelopard Hyades. Capella 1. Between Mid-back of Monoceros and North Pole. Between Head of Hydra and Sextans and North Pole. Cancer... Leo Major 83 The Crab...... Acubene 4. 95 The greater Lion {Regulus, or Cor Leonis 1, Deneb 2. Those marked thus (*) are modern constellations. Leo Minor No. of Stars. .... 53 The less Lion Remarkable Stars. Ursa Major.... 87 The greater Bear Dubhe 1, Alioth 2, Benet nach 2. Between Shoulder of Virgo and North Pole. Coma Berenices 43 Berenice's Hair Canes Venatici 25 The Hounds 3 Charles's Heart Cor Caroli. S "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. |