CONSTELLATIONS AND PLANETS. 187 



passes through Deneb in the Swan, sometimes called the 

 Northern Cross, and through Job's Coffin (the Dolphin). 

 The great triangle of Deneb, blue-eyed Vega and Altair, is 

 conspicuous in the Milky Way. Arcturus and red Antares 

 are passing out of sight in the west. The Northern or 

 Ariadne's Crown, with its brilliant Gemma, is in the north- 

 west. Between the Northern Crown and Vega, a beautiful 

 constellation called Hercules, containing the Flower-pot, can 

 be studied. The brilliant star in the south-east is Fomalhaut. 

 About two hours east of Deneb and the Dolphin you may see 

 the west side of the great square of Pegasus. (See map, p. 186). 



At 8 p.m. on the 1st of January the zenith meridian passes 

 through Perseus, containing Algol, the Demon Star. The 

 Great Square is passing to the west, and the Northern 

 Crown, Job's Coffin and Fomalhaut are setting. A glorious 

 combination is coming up in the east. The six Pleiades, called 

 erroneously by some people the Little Dipper and the Bull's 

 Head, also known as the Hyades or the Big A, containing 

 Aldebaran the Bull's Eye are nearly overhead, and close 

 following them comes Orion, the giant, the most brilliant 

 constellation in the sky. North-east of the Pleiades observe 

 Capella attended by a little triangle known as the Three Kids. 

 Further to the east may be seen the Heavenly Twins, called 

 Castor and Pollux, the Little Dog Star (Procyon), and the 

 Great Dog Star (Sirius), by far the most brilliant fixed star 

 in the firmament. Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, Sirius and Rigel 

 form the outline of a beautiful lozenge. (See map, p. 183). 



At 8 p.m. on the 1st of April the zenith meridian passes 

 through the front of the Great Bear whose hind-quarter and 

 tail make the Big Dipper and also through Cancer, the 

 Crab. Two of the stars called the Asses in Cancer are easily 

 identified ; they are in line just south of the zenith. Between 

 them is a faint cluster called the Beehive or Prsesepe that may 



