192 THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



Visible Occultations of Algol for the The Stars. 



Season of 1916-1917. "No man can study the stars," says Dr. 



The following table gives the visible John Brashear, Pittsburgh's distinguished 



minima for the occultation of the var- astronomer, in. the "American Magazine," 



iable star Algol for the seasons 1916- "without becoming bigger and better. The 



1917. The time given is the middle of earth is too much with most of us; and 



the occultation, which begins five hours ^^e are inclined to be too much with and 



earlier and lasts five hours later, wax- within ourselves. We have an exagger- 



ing and waning as the dark companion ^ted sense of our own importance in the 



sun passes over Algol. The time given ^^j-ld, and of the importance of the world 



is U. S. Eastern Standard Time. -^^ ^^^^ universe. 



November 6, 12:15 (Mdt.) "Alost folks consider this old world a 



November 9, 9 :oo P. M. pretty big place, but, if you tossed a cube 



November 12 5 150 P. M. i/y^oooth of an inch in diameter into 



November 26, 1.45 (Mdt.) ^^^^ j,^- -^ ^.^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^_ 



November 29, 10 :^S P. M. . • ■ ^.\ ^ ^ • 1 1 ^1 .. 



T^ , ^' T-i T\/r tive space m that great inland sea that our 



December 2 7 :2s P. M. ,, ^ • • • . • .• 



-r-> 1 ,^ ^\^ /-mt ^4. \ earth occupies m a universe terminating 



December 19 12:30 (Mdt.) , ^ ., , ^ • , 



December 22, 8-30 P M ^^ nearest star, Alpha Centaun, and 



December 2=;' =; -^o P M extending a similar distance from our sun 

 January 8 2:00 (Mdt ) ^^ ^^^ directions. Such a universe con- 

 January II 10:50 P. M. tains 15,625,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 



January 14 7:40 P. M. 000,000,000.000,000 (fifteen thousand six 



January 17 4:30 P. M. hundred and twenty-five undecillion) 



January 31 12 :45 (Mdt.) miles, but it is only an infinitesimal dot in 



"February 3 8 :30 P. M. the actual universe. Our .sun itself is 



February 6 5 :2o P. M. one million three hundred thousand times 



February 20 2 :25 (Mdt.) as big as the earth, but photometric meas- 



r^ebruary 2^ n :i5 ^ • ^'^- ures have shown that the heat-giving of 



February 26 8 :o5 P. M. ^ur solar svstem is greatly exceeded in 



March i 4:=;o P M • t r ■ -. ^ ^^ -n- 



March 15 I -oo (Mdt ) T ^' ^'i ^^ "" 7T'\^ the mdlions 



March 18 9 :5o P. M. °^ '^'''' ^^'^^ s tud the h eavens. 



March 21 6 :4o P M. 



—The Monthly Evening Sky Map Nature's Thoughtfulness. 



r.V WARREN KIMSEV, LATIIKOP, MO. 



Did vou ever see a green vine that had 



To the Owners of Small Telescopes, completely covered a rough old stump? 



r.V wiLijAM TYi.ER OLCOTT, NORWICH, The unsightly object had become a thing 



CONN., coRRKSPONDiNG si':cRETARY. of bcauty. This is Nature's way. 



The American As.sociation of \'ariable Those who do less in every day life are 



Star Observers has just completed its unworthy. Thev are unworthy to live and 



fifth year of work observing variable move and have 'their being in a world that 



stars with a total to date of 59,500 ob- ^^.^, intended to be beautiful. After all, 



servations. , , , , , there is beautv in suffering and sacrifice 



More recruits are needed for the work, -r 1 1 ' ^-i 1 -iv T ■*. 



1 . , . , ^, . , ,, if only one has the ability to see it. 



which involves no mathematics, and the -^ 



details of which are easily mastered. All This world is a mighty good place in 



that is required is a star atlas and a tele- which to live. lUit you've got to do your 



scope of three inch aperture or larger. best in your place if you get the joy and 



The Secretary will be glad to furnish happiness that is in store for you. There 



information regarding the details of ob- j^ a likeness to a wild bee tree, 

 serving, and pleased to assist any one 



who is willing to co-operate with us. ^ou must get out and find the tree. 



Here is the chance to do some tele- Then you may get stung.But the honey is 

 scopic work that is really worth while, of there, and it's great when you sit down 

 fascinating interest and scientific value, and put it into your mouth. Your neigh- 

 No obligation is imposed on members of bor may be eating some of the wild honey 

 the association save a willingness to ob- of life, risfht now! Perhaps you are not. 

 serve variable stars when it is convenient. Why? The answer is within vourself. 



