167 
FOLLOWING A PLANET. 
By A. McGill, B. Sc, B.A. 
(Read January 9th, 1^94.) 
It is by no means a difficult thing for anyone who will take the 
trouble to observe the heavens, say for half an hour each night on the 
consecutive clear nights of any month in the year, to assure himself 
that the stars which shine there maintain, with reference to each other, 
the same position in the sky, night after night. Perhaps the simplest 
and consequently the best observation to begin with, will be the recog- 
nition of the Great Dipper, not itself a complete constellation, but a 
very conspicuous group of seven stars in Ursa Major. So many people 
are familiar with the ' Dipper ' that any one not himself able to identify 
it, will find no trouble in getting some friend to point it out for him 
The stars are so arranged with reference to each other, that four of them 
are placed at the corners of a somewhat irregular rectangle -the bowl of 
the Dipper while the remaining three extend outwards from one of the 
corners of the rectangle, neatly parallel to its long axis, and represent 
the handle. The middle one of these three is not exacily in line with 
the other two, so that the handle is slightly bent. It may be incidently 
mentioned here that this particular star is double, and is a very beauti- 
ful object as seen by a small telescope. A very short distance above it 
is a somewhat smaller star, visible to the naked eye and popularly 
known as Jack, astride of the pole of the cart, when, what I have called 
the Dipper, is imagined as Charles' Wain, a very common name in 
some parts of England, for this group of stars. 
Nothing can be more instructive or convincing to a beginner in 
star-gazing, than the continuous watching through one whole night 
preferably a summer night, in our latitude- of this star group. If this 
be done it will be found that when the long axis of the Dipper is parallel 
to the horizon, a position which it is certain to take some time during 
the period of vigil, then the handle will be extended to the left hand 
side (west) of the observer, if the Dipper is right side up ; or to his right 
hand side, (eastward) if the Dipper is upside down. It is in this latter 
position that it will be seen at twelve o'clock these nights, (middle ot 
