TO KNOW THE STARRY HEAVENS 



3ii 



then being three degrees eighteen min- 

 utes north of Uranus. 



There are few oecultations ol the 

 brighter stars during the present year 

 though an interesting passage of our 

 satellite over the quite bright star at 

 M, Figure 1, may be witnessed on the 

 evening of March 9. As seen from 

 Washington the dark edge of the moon 

 will overtake and hide the star at 7 

 hr. 41 min. P. M. (Eastern Standard 

 Time) and the star will reappear 1 hr. 

 10 min. later. These times differ much 

 as one changes his position on the 

 earth, however, and the only way for 

 the observer to make the observation 

 successfully is to note the position of 

 the moon and star some little time be- 

 fore the phenomenon is to occur and 

 estimate as well as he can the moment 

 of disappearance. The star at M is 

 described as a crocus-vellow color. It 



is an interesting double, having a blu- 

 ish, eleventh magnitude companion 

 about eighty seconds away. 



The center of the sun will cross the 

 celestial equator and spring will begin 

 5 hrs. 26 min. A. M. on March 21. This 

 day and the preceding night will be of 

 equal length and at this instant winter 

 will end. 



The stars are blossoming in the sky, 

 Fair lilies of gold in the fields on high: 

 But the sun, which opens our earthly 



flowers, 

 Will the star-blooms close in the morning 



hours. 



— Emma Peirce. 



The American Association of Vari- 

 able Star Observers is now collecting 

 data on more than three hundred vari- 

 able stars. 



JL 



3C 



£>om? ICmtp tlir dianal) Sag. 



?By Biarolb (Snrbmt IfamkittB, IHpBtfirlii, fHaaBarijuafltB. 



Some love the garish day — but I 

 Prefer the quiet of a darkening sky, 

 When to their rest have gone the tired birds, 

 And at the pasture bars full uddered herds 

 Reflectively await the driver's coming. 



And also do I love the dim mysterious wood 

 When night descends, and a rich melodious flood 

 Of melody bursts from the thrush's throat 

 To die away in one sweet, solemn note, 



Accompanied by the grouse's thrumming. 



Then, is Dame Nature in her sweetest mood, 



And tranquil quietude seems to brood 



In motherly silence on each wooded height, 



And all things are hushed — expectant of the night, 



All, but the weird tattoo of a partridge drumming. 



K 



3E 



