THE QUARTERLY 
BOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
JULY.) 2874: 
Pe tae POLE STAR AND THE POINTERS. 
fy Lieut.-Colonel A. W. Drayson,’ K.A., “F.R.A-S. 
Ne every educated person is sufficiently ac- 
quainted with the familiar objects in the heavens to 
be able to recognise the constellation known as the 
“creat bear.” Two stars of this constellation are termed 
“the pointers,’ because they point towards a third star 
called the “‘ pole star.” The great bear, the pointers, and 
the pole star may therefore be called well-known objects ; 
for as these stars always remain above the horizon in our 
latitude, they may be seen every clear night throughout the 
year. 
Among the hundreds of thousands of persons who look:at 
the pole star and the pointers, probably a hundred times a 
year, we have hitherto found only about four who have re- 
marked a singular and interesting fact connected with these 
objects. When, however, we have pointed out the inte- 
resting fact, then many persons have asserted that they had 
noticed the peculiarity we referred to, but that want of con- 
fidence in their own observational powers had caused them 
to conclude that what they fancied they saw was an optical 
delusion, and not an actual fact. Results, however, of a 
valuable kind emanate from the peculiarity we shall here 
refer to; and though in the present article we are compelled 
to treat the subject in a somewhat popular or superficial 
manner, it is yet connected with problems of considerable 
difficulty and of great practical utility, which have hitherto 
to a considerable extent escaped notice, in consequence of 
the science of Geometry having in modern times been 
greatly neglected. 
Many years ago it was our fate to make a voyage from 
England towards the Southern Hemisphere ; it was part of 
our duty to keep what are called ‘‘ watches” on board ship. 
We had sometimes to remain on deck from 8 o’clock P.M. 
till midnight, and at other times from 4 A.M. till 8 A.M., and 
during these hours we had every opportunity of observing 
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