The first of June the great golden star Arcturus, whose position may be found by running the eye along the curve of the handle of the Great Dipper, and continuing onward a distance equal to the whole length of the Dipper, is seen approaching the meridian from the east and high overhead. This superb star is the leader of the constellation Boötes, the Bear-Driver. Spica in Virgo is now a little west of the meridian.
The first of July, when the centre of Draco is on the meridian north of the zenith, the exquisite circlet of stars called Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is nearly overhead. A short distance north-east of it appears a double-quadrilateral figure, marking out the constellation Hercules, while directly south of the Crown a crooked line of stars trending eastward indicates the constellation Serpens, the Serpent. South-west of Serpens, two widely separated but nearly equal stars of the second magnitude distinguish the zodiacal constellation Libra, the Balance; while lower down toward the south-east appears the brilliant red star Antares, in the constellation Scorpio, likewise belonging to the zodiac.
On the first of August the head of Draco is on the meridian near the zenith, and south of it is seen Hercules, toward the west, and the exceedingly brilliant star Vega, in the constellation Lyra, the Lyre, toward the east. Vega, or Alpha Lyræ, has few rivals for beauty. Its light has a decided bluish-white tone, which is greatly accentuated when it is viewed with a telescope. South of Hercules two or three rows of rather large, widely separated stars mark the constellation Ophiuchus, the Serpent-Bearer. This extends across the equator. Below it, in a rich part of the Milky Way, is Scorpio, whose winding line, beginning with Antares west of the meridian, terminates a considerable distance east of the meridian in a pair of stars representing the uplifted sting of the imaginary monster.
The first of September the Milky Way runs directly overhead, and in the midst of it shines the large and striking figure called the Northern Cross, in the constellation Cygnus, the Swan. The bright star at the head of the Cross is named Denib. Below the Cross and in the eastern edge of the Milky Way is the constellation Aquila, the Eagle, marked by a bright star, Altair, with a smaller one on each side and not far away. Low in the south, a little west of the meridian and partly immersed in the brightest portion of the Milky Way, is the zodiacal constellation Sagittarius, the Archer. It is distinguished by a group of stars several of which form the figure of the upturned bowl of a dipper, sometimes called the Milk Dipper. East of Cygnus and Aquila a diamond-shaped figure marks the small constellation Delphinus, the Dolphin.
At the opening of October, when Denib is near the meridian, the sky directly in the south is not very brilliant. Low down, south of the equator, is seen the zodiacal constellation Capricornus, the Goat, with a noticeable pair of stars in the head of the imaginary animal.
On the first of November, when Cassiopeia is approaching the meridian overhead, the Great Square, in the constellation Pegasus, is on the meridian south of the zenith, while south-west of Pegasus the zodiacal constellation Aquarius, the Water-Bearer, appears on the ecliptic. A curious scrawling Y-shaped figure in the upper part of Aquarius serves as a mark to identify the constellation. Thirty degrees south of this shines the bright star Fomalhaut, in the constellation Piscis Australis, the Southern Fish. The two stars forming the eastern side of the Great Square of Pegasus are interesting because, like Caph in Cassiopeia, they lie close to the line of the equinoctial colure. The northern one is called Alpheratz and the southern Gamma Pegasi. Alpheratz is a star claimed by two constellations, since it not only marks one corner of the square of Pegasus, but it also serves to indicate the head of the maiden in the celebrated constellation of Andromeda.
The first of December, Andromeda is seen nearly overhead, south of Cassiopeia. The constellation is marked by a row of three second-magnitude stars, beginning on the east with Alpheratz and terminating near Perseus with Almaack. The central star is named Mirach. A few degrees north-west of Mirach glimmers the great Andromeda nebula. Below Andromeda, west of the meridian, appears the zodiacal constellation Aries, the Ram, indicated by a group of three stars, forming a triangle, the brightest of which is called Hamal. South-westerly from Aries is the zodiacal constellation Pisces, the Fishes, which consists mainly of faint stars arranged in pairs and running far toward the west along the course of the ecliptic, which crosses the equator at the vernal equinox, near the western end of the constellation. South of Pisces and Aries is the broad constellation Cetus, the Whale, marked by a number of large quadrilateral and pentagonal figures, formed by its stars. Near the centre of this constellation, but not ordinarily visible to the naked eye, is the celebrated variable Mira, also known as Omicron Ceti.
With a little application any person can learn to recognise these constellations, even with the slight aid here offered, and if he does, he will find the knowledge thus acquired as delightful as it is useful.