The Heavens in February. 



By Professor Eric Doolittle o f the University of Pennsylvania. 



With the coming of midwinter, our 

 southern heavens shine out with their 

 most brilliant aspect of the entire year. 

 All of the most beautiful constellations 

 are now near the meridian. ( )rion, Tau- 

 rus and Auriga having just passed it at 

 nine o'clock in the evening, while the 

 two Dog Stars and Gemini attain it an 



tire band of the southern heavens, from 

 the east to the west, is wholly covered 

 with the brilliant winter stars. 



SfC SjC 3jC 3jC 5jS 



The February Stars. 



Beautiful as these striking constella- 

 tions are, it is hoped that the reader 

 interested in astronomv will find even 



NOETH 



South 



Figure 1. The Constellations at 9 P. M., February 1. (If facing south, hold ma]) upright. If facing 

 east, hold East below. If facing west, hold West below. If facing north, hold the map inverted) 



hour later. Leo, the very last of the 

 bright winter groups, has risen high 

 above the ground in the east, and as the 

 faint Virgo, which follows it, is as yet 

 just below the eastern horizon, the en- 



more pleasure in becoming familiar 

 with the many fainter and more deli- 

 cate little groups. For example, on 

 these winter evenings he may trace out 

 the Triangle, at K, and the little groups 



