The Heavens in June. 
By Professor Samuel G. Barton of the University of Pennsylvania. 
O UR map of the heavens for June 
has one feature of unusual in- 
terest. It has been possible for us 
to mark on the map the position of the 
planet Mercury. This planet is very 
seldom above the horizon at the time 
for which the maps are made, g P. M. 
Mercury is often called the “elusive 
fore and after June io constitute one 
such period. The sun at this time being 
far north of the equator sets late, and 
Mercury being near its greatest dis- 
tance east of the sun sets at a longer in- 
terval than usual after the sun. As 
shown on the map Mercury is below 
the well-known twin stars, Castor and 
NORTH 
Figure 1. The Constellations at 9 P. M., June 1. Hold the map so that the direction 
faced is at the bottom; that is, if facing east hold east at the bottom as south now is. 
planet” because, being the planet clos- 
est to the sun, it is seldom seen far from 
the sun. It sets soon after the sun or 
rises just before the sun and hence can 
be seen only in the twilight in those 
brief periods when its distance from the 
sun is unusually large. A few days be- 
Pollux, well to the north of west. Mer- 
cury is brighter than either of these 
stars. The planet will be very close to 
the ground at 9 P. M. To see the planet 
one should look soon after the sun has 
set. 
Jupiter and Saturn are now in the 
