Fig. 67.—Map of Stars on Sun’s Path.
The star map ([Fig. 67]) will show you that the constellation of Gemini, the Twins, is one which can be seen in February on your meridian at 9 o’clock at night, and you know that Mercury can be seen close to the western horizon from 3 to 4 hours earlier.
Since Gemini, the Twins, is on the meridian at 9 o’clock, Taurus, the Bull, which is the next constellation to it, will be on the meridian at 7 o’clock, and Aries, the Ram, will be on the meridian at 5 o’clock.
Now the next constellation to the west of Aries, the Ram, is Pisces, the Fishes, and the next one to Pisces, the Fishes, is Aquarius, the Water Bearer, and as this constellation sets about an hour after the Sun, it is in this constellation that you will find Mercury in the early February evenings.
Fig. 68.—Diagram of Position of Constellations.
The diagram ([Fig. 68]) shows how it is that when Aries is on the meridian at 5 o’clock in the evenings of February, Gemini will be rising in the east, and Aquarius, with Mercury in it, will be getting ready to set in the west.
You can find all the other planets in the same way, but it is much easier to find them in the sky than it is to try and imagine their positions after reading how it is done. You should, though, by all means, read the [chapter on The Stars of the Zodiac] before you try to plot a planet, for there is much useful information in it which you ought to know.
