ORION. 



equal distance beyond the pole star. The star Capella can also be 

 found by following the direction of a line through 7 and a of Ursa 

 major, as shown in the figure. If a line be imagined to be drawn 

 through 7 and 5 of Ursa major, and continued onwards to a dis- 

 tance from S equal to the distance between the pole star and 

 Pegasus, it will arrive at the principal star of the constellation 

 Lyra, called Vega; and, if a line be drawn from this star at right 

 angles to the former, it will arrive at the principal star of the 

 constellation of Cygnus, generally known as a Cygni, but also 

 called Adrided. 



If a line be drawn through the stars o of Andromeda and /8 of 

 Pegasus, and be continued through the latter to a distance equal 

 to about four times the distance between these stars, it will arrive 

 at another conspicuous star of the first magnitude, shown in the 

 figure, called Altair, being the principal star of the constellation 

 Aquila or the Eagle. 



26. The most magnificent constellation of the firmament, sur- 

 passing not only in splendour, but in the almost countless number 

 of its component stars, profusely sprinkled also with nebulae, 

 as will hereafter appear, is 

 Orion, the principal stars of 

 which are shown in fig. 7, and 

 will be immediately recognised 

 by every eye familiar with the 

 appearance of the firmament. 

 This splendid stellar combi- 

 nation, lying across that part 

 of the ecliptic over which the 

 sun passes in December, will 

 always be visible about mid- 

 night on the southern meri- 

 dian in the month of June, 

 and may indeed be viewed 

 with great advantage and 

 facility during the summer 

 and the latter part of spring. 

 The principal stars, when con- 

 nected by imaginary lines, 

 form a figure resembling that 

 of an hour-glass. The figure 

 from which the constellation 

 takes its name is a mytholo- 

 gical personage, celebrated as 

 a giant and a hunter, who after his death was, according to 

 Homer, elevated to the stars (Iliad, lib. xviii. 486 ; xxii. 29 ; Od. 



159 



