392 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [14:9— Dec, 1918 



extending from the Pole Star to Rigel. About halfway between 

 the Pole Star and Orion this line will pass through a brilliant 

 star which is called Capella. The following questions may be 

 asked: What color is Capella? How does this show that it 

 is the same age as our sun? Is Capella as near the Pole Star as 

 the Big Dipper ? Is it near enough so that it never sets ? Can you 

 see the shield shaped constellation of five stars of which Capella 

 is a part ? What is the name of this constellation ? 



Capella comes very near belonging to the Polar constellation 

 since it is below the horizon only about four hours out of the 

 twenty-four. It is bright yellow which shows that it is about 

 the same composition and age as our sun. However it gives off 

 120 times as much light as our sun. It is 40 light years away 

 from us. During the evenings of March and April, in its shield- 

 shaped constellation which is called Auriga it is a very noticeable 

 feature high up in the western sky. 



THE HEAVENLY TWINS 



Above the Little Dog Star with its twin and in a region of the 

 sky where there are very few bright stars are a pair of twin stars 

 which are very noticeable. These stars will naturally be dis- 

 covered when finding Capella. To this brilliant pair of stars 

 the ancients gave the name of the twins, Castor and Pollux. 

 These were two beautiful twin boys who loved each other so 

 much that after they were dead they were placed in the skies 

 where they could always be near each other. Pollux is the 

 brighter of the two and is the more southward in situation. It is 

 a yellow star and is supposed to be in the same stage of develop- 

 ment as our sun, while Castor is white and is therefore, according 

 to the agss of the stars is young. The following questions should 

 be answered by the pupils from observation. 



How can you tell the Heavenly Twins from the Little Dog 

 Star and its companions? Which pair are the brightest in the 

 sky? Which of the twins is the brightest star? For further study 

 of the constellations use "Whittaker Planisphere" to find the stars 

 see the "Friendly Stars" by Martin. 



Notice 

 The Title page and Index for Vol. XIV of Nature-Study 

 Review will be sent in the February number. 



