302 



THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



By Professor Eric Doolittle of The University of Pennsylvania- 



N the early evenings of this 

 mid-winter month the south- 

 ern heavens present their 

 most attractive appearance 

 of the entire year. Here 

 we see Gemini, Auriga and 

 the two Dog stars, all very 

 near the meridian, and ea^h 

 at very nearly the highest point it ever 

 •attains in the sky, while to the west of 



left of this very bright region is in its 

 best position for exploration and study. 

 There are a very great many interesting 

 objects here, though the attention of the 

 casual observer is apt to be drawn away 

 from this interesting area by its very 

 brilliant neighboring stars. Thus, for 

 example, nearly everyone is able to rec- 

 ognize the beautiful Dog star Sirius ; but 

 a far fewer number are familiar with the 



NORTH 



South 



Figure 1 — The Constellations at 9 P. M., February 1. (If facing south, hold the map upright; if 

 facing east, hold east below; if facing west, hold west below; if facing north, hold the map inverted.) 



these there shine out Taurus and Orion, outlines of the delicate and most inter- 

 probably the most striking star groups of esting constellation formed by Sirius and 

 the heavens. its numerous, but far fainter, neighbors. 

 It is at this time of the year that the There is so much in this region that 

 large area of the sky below and to the will prove of interest to the possessor of 



