Constellations Visible in April. At the middle of April, Aries and Andromeda have set; Taurus, Orion and Canis Major are sinking towards the west; the Great Bear and the Lion are overhead; Arcturus has risen in the northeast ([Plate 16]); and some way to the south of this is seen a star of the first magnitude, which forms a large triangle with Arcturus and Denebola. It is called Spica [30] Virginis, and is the chief star in the constellation Virgo, or the Virgin. The stars on the breast and wings can be found with the aid of the map.

South of Virgo is a trapezium of four stars, which are in the constellation of Corvus, or the Crow.

Constellations Visible in May. At the middle of May, Taurus, Orion, and Canis Major have set; Vega has just come up in the northeast; and between Vega and Arcturus we again see Hercules and Corona. Below Spica are two stars of the second magnitude, belonging to the constellation Libra, or the Balance. Another star of the fourth magnitude forms a triangle with these, and marks one pan of the balance. ([Plate 7]).

Constellations Visible in June. In June we shall find that Canis Minor, Perseus, Auriga, and Gemini have either set, or are on the point of setting; Arcturus is overhead; Cygnus and Aquila are just rising. Ophiuchus is well up; and low in the southeast we see again the red star Antares, in the constellation Scorpio, or the Scorpion ([Plate 6]). There is a star of the third magnitude on each side of Antares, and several stars of the third and fourth magnitudes in the head and claws. The configuration of these stars is much like a boy’s kite with a long tail. Scorpio is a very brilliant constellation, and is seen to better advantage in July and August.

Constellations Visible in July and August. We have now described all the important constellations visible in our latitude. Those which are seen in July and August are mainly those described under the last two or three months, and under September.

Southern Circumpolar Constellations. There are a number of constellations near the South Pole of the heavens which never rise in our latitude, just as there are certain ones near the North Pole which never set. These are called the southern circumpolar constellations.

CONSTELLATIONS VISIBLE EACH MONTH

The following table gives the constellations visible at eight o’clock in the evening about the middle of each month. The stars opposite the names of the constellations indicate those visible in the month designated at the top.

NAME OF CONSTELLATIONSept.Oct.Nov.Dec.Jan.Feb.Mar.AprilMayJuneJulyAug.
Ursa Major (er´sa mā´jor). The Greater Bear.★★★★★★★★★★★★
Ursa Minor (er´sa mī´nor). The Lesser Bear.★★★★★★★★★★★★
Draco (drak´ō). Dragon.★★★★★★★★★★★★
Cassiopeia (kas-si-o-pē´a). Lady’s Chair.★★★★★★★★★★★★
Cepheus (sē´fe-us).★★★★★★★★★★★★
Bootes (bo-ō´tēz). The Oxdriver or Plowman.★ ★★★★★
Corona Borealis (kō-rō´na bō-rē-ā´lis). The Northern Crown.★★ ★★★★
Ophiuchus (of-i-u´kus). The Serpent Bearer.★ ★★★
Sagittarius (saj-i-tā´ri-us). The Archer.★ ★★
Hercules (her´ku-lēz).★★ ★★★★
Lyra (lī´ra). The Lyre.★★★ ★★★
Aquila (ak´wil-a).★★★ ★★
Delphinus (del´fin-us). Dolphin.★★★ ★★
Capricornus (kap-ri-kor´nus). The Goat.★★★ ★
Cygnus (sig´nus). The Swan.★★★★ ★★★
Sagitta (saj´it-ta). The Arrow.★★★ ★★
Aquarius (a-kwā´ri-us). The Water-bearer.★★★★
Piscis Australis (pis´sis aw-strā´lis). The Southern Fish.★★★★
Pegasus (peg´a-sus). The Winged Horse.★★★★★
Andromeda (an-drom´e-da).★★★★★★★
Perseus (per´sus).★★★★★★★★
Aries (a´ri-ēz). Ram. ★★★★★★
Pisces (pis´sēz). Fishes. ★★★★
Cetus (sē´tus). The Whale. ★★★★
Triangulum (trī-ang´u-lum). The Triangle. ★★★★★
Auriga (aw-ri´ga). The Waggoner or The Charioteer. ★★★★★★★
Taurus (tau´rus). The Bull. ★★★★★★
Lepus (lep´us). The Hare. ★★★★
Orion (ō-ri´on). Giant and Hunter. ★★★★★
Gemini (jem´i-ni). The Twins. ★★★★★★
Canis Major (kā´nis mā´jor). The Great Dog. ★★★★
Canis Minor (kā´nis mī´nor). The Little Dog. ★★★★★
Cancer (kan´ser). The Crab. ★★★★★
Hydra (hī´dra). The Snake. ★★★★★
Leo (lē´ō). The Lion. ★★★★★★
Coma Berenices (kō´ma ber-e-nī´sēz). Hair of Berenice. ★★★★★★
Canes Venatici (ka´nēz vē-nā´ti-si). The Hunter’s Dogs. ★★★★★★
Virgo (ver´gō). The Virgin. ★★★★★
Corvus (kor´vus). The crow. ★★★★
Libra (li´bra). Balance. ★★★★
Scorpio (skor´pi-ō). The Scorpion. ★★★