556 SCIENTIFIC RECREATIONS. 



Cassiopeia, about as far beyond Polaris as the Bear is below it. When the 

 latter is low, the former is at the zenith, and so on. 



A line drawn from the Pole Star through the end star of the Great 

 Bear leads to Arcturus. A line taken from Arcturus for about an equal 

 distance will, with the Pole Star, make a triangle with Vega. The Polar 

 Star may be called the Apex. 



Regulus may be found southwards by drawing a line through the twa 

 first stars of the square in the Bear (opposite the pointers). From Vega, almost 

 opposite the Pole Star, and through it about twice as far away on the other 

 side, is Sirius, a brilliant " sun." Procyon will be found to the westward of 

 Regulus about 30. From Procyon to the Pole Star a line will pass through 

 Pollux and Castor. 



Another line from the pole star through the middle of the three 

 "horses" in the "Wain" will reach Spica Virginis about 70 beyond. So 

 we can describe a large triangle with Spica, Regulus, and Arcturus, at the 

 angles. Regulus is the apex, Spica and Arcturus a short base line. 



Fig. 631. Diagram of Sirius, etc. 



From the pole star through Capella, passing between Betelgeux and 

 Bellatrix, we shall describe a line leading to the three stars of Orion's belt. 

 Between it and the Pleiades is Aldebaran. 



There are many other stars which could be indicated ; but on a fine 

 evening, if the observer will mark them upon a piece of paper, placing 

 the pole star in the centre, he will be able to add to his star map very 

 rapidly. 



In the foregoing chapters of Astronomy we have seen how the earth 

 and other planets move around the sun ; we have glanced at the " fixed " 

 stars and their groups, termed the constellations, and have noted the planets 

 and their characteristics, with many other interesting facts. There is yet 

 a great deal to be learnt, and much study will be required with daily 

 (nightly) observations before the young reader will obtain success as a 

 student of astronomy ; but there is no study so interesting. We have 

 seen what a very small portion of the universe is occupied by our solar 

 system, and what a speck our earth is on the plain of creation. We find 

 ourselves on the border-land of the incomprehensible, and we are lost in 

 speculations upon the unseen. 



