The Heavens in December. 
By Professor Samuel G. Barton of the University of Pennsylvania. 
V EGA, tile brightest of the sum- 
mer stars, is now in an incon- 
spicuous position in the north- 
west (at A, Figure i), while Sirius, the 
brightest of the winter stars and the 
most brilliant of all. is just appearing 
in the southeast at B, accompanied by 
many other bright stars. Cygnus, the 
head. This constellation is often iden- 
tified by its resemblance to the letter 
W. It represents a woman, Cassiopeia, 
seated on her throne. In this part of 
the sky we find constellations named 
for Cepheus, mythological king of the 
Ethiopians, Cassiopeia, his queen, and 
Andromeda, his daughter, who was 
NOTSTH 
Figure 1. The constellations at 9 P. M. December 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.) 
northern cross, now stands in its nat- 
ural upright position in the west. The 
dippers in the north are in unfavorable 
position. Cassiopeia, which lies on the 
opposite side of the pole from the big 
dipper (Ursa Major), is nearly over- 
chained to the rock to be devoured by 
the sea monster, but who was happily 
rescued by Perseus. Rescuer and res- 
cued married, of course, and we sup- 
pose lived happily afterward. They are 
placed as adjacent constellations. 
