PYEl THE CONSTELLATIONS 27 



such a tiny space in our sky, still our whole planetary system could 

 pass with ease between the two nearest of these stars. 



Modem photographs show the entire group to be completely 

 enshrouded in a magnificent tracery of nebulous matter, which 

 stretches in curious wisps and streaks from star to star. From 

 this wonderful mass there is probably a great system in the last 

 stages of formation. The six stars visible to the average eye are 

 Alcyone, Maia, Electra, Atlas, Merope, and Taygeta, while some 

 people can distinguish Celaeno, Pleione, and Asterope. If, as we 

 believe, these stars are still in the process of formation, some future 

 generation might be able to see all nine, or even more, with the 

 naked eye. But more probably, the reverse will be the case, for 

 the whole constellation is moving away at the rate of twenty-five 

 miles a second. 



There have been a great many poems and articles written on this 

 tiny group of mystic stars, and upon individuals of the group. 

 Alcyone, has received especial attention. It is nearly two thousand 

 times as brilliant as the sun. In his Alcyone Archbold Lampman 

 describes it as : 



The great and burning star, 

 Immeasurably old, immeasurably far, 

 Surging forth its silver flame 

 ■ Through eternity. 



Some sixty years ago the German astronomer Madler imagined 

 it to be the center of revolution of the universe — the place of the 

 Almighty, the Mansion of the Eternal! This theory was very 

 popular at the time, and even today a few may be found who 

 advocate it. 



In ancient Chinese, and Hindu legends references arefound to the 

 Pleiades. The Egyptian and Babylonian tablets refer to the same 

 group. Aratus in the third century before the Christian era 

 thus wrote of these same Pleiads : 



Their number seven, though the myths oft say, 

 And poets feign, that one has passed away. 



In the books of Job and Amos in the Bible we find the ^^roup 

 mentioned The Almighty thus addressed Job: 



Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiad(^s 

 Or loose the bands of Orion? 



Amos, the herdsman of Tekoa wrote: 



Seek him that maketh the Pleiades and Orion 

 . . . the Lord is his name. 



