ASTRONOMY WITH AN OPERA-GLASS. 



203 



distinctness by the stars Alpha (a), Epsilon (c), Gamma (y), Delta (8), 

 and Beta (/?), together with some fainter stars lying along the main 

 beam of the cross between /? and y. The star /?, also called Albireo, 

 is one of the most beautiful double stars in the heavens. The compo- 

 nents are sharply contrasted in color, the larger star being golden- 



Cygnus, Aquila, the Dolphin, Etc. 



yellow, while the smaller one is a deep, rich blue. With a field-glass 

 of 1 '6-inch aperture and magnifying full six times I have sometimes 

 been able to divide this pair, and to recognize the blue color of the 

 smaller star. It will be found a severe test for such a glass. 



About half way from Albireo to the two stars and e in Aquila, is 

 a very curious little group consisting of six or seven stars in a straight 

 row, with a garland of other stars hanging from the center. To see it 

 best, take a field-glass, although an opera-glass shows it. 



I have indicated the place of the celebrated star 61 Cygni in the 

 map, because of the interest attaching to it as the nearest to us, so far 

 as we know, of all the stars in the northern hemisphere, and with one 

 exception the nearest star in all the heavens. Yet it is very faint, and 

 the fact that so inconspicuous a star should be nearer than such brill- 



