The asterism known as "The Brandenburg Sceptre," consisting of four stars of the fourth and fifth magnitudes, can be seen arranged in a straight line north and south below the first bend in the River just west of Lepus.
METEORIC SHOWERS.
JANUARY TO APRIL.
| Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point | Characteristics | Other Dates of Observation | Location |
| Quadrantids. Rich annual shower | Jan. 2 | (44) Boötis, between Boötes and Dragon's head | M. Sw. B. | Jan 3. | E. |
| Zeta Cancrids | Jan. 2-4 | (ζ) Cancri, near Bee Hive | E. | ||
| Theta Ursids | Jan. 5 | About 10° from β away from γ Ursæ Maj. | Small Sh. Sw. F. | Jan. 2-8 | N. |
| Alpha Draconids | Feb. 1 | Near Thuban α Draconis | Sl. | Jan. 9 Dec. 8 | N. |
| Alpha Aurigids | Feb. 7 | Near Capella α Aurigæ | Sl. | Aug. 21 Sept. 12-22 | High in Southern Sky |
| Tau Leonids | Feb. 16 | τ Leonis, between Leo and Crater | Sl. Sk. | Nov. 27 Dec. 12 Mar. 1-4 | E. |
| Alpha Canum Ven. Well defined 1877 | Feb. 20 | Near Cor Caroli and Coma Berenices | V. Sw. B. | E. | |
| α-β Perseids | Mar. 1 | Between α and β Persei | V. Sl. | July—Dec. Mar. 13-19 | N.W. |
| Beta Leonids or Beta Virginids | Mar. 14 | Near Denebola β Leonis | Sl. B. | Mar. 3, 4 Dec. 12 | S.E. |
| Kappa Cepheids | Mar. 18 | Near Polaris | Sl. B. | Oct. 4-17 Mar. 13-19 | N. |
| Beta Ursids | Mar. 24 | Near β Ursæ Maj. | Sw. | Apr. 10-16 Mar. 13-14 Dec. 2-9 Precise | N. |
| Zeta Draconids | Mar. 28 | Near the Dragon's Head | Sl. | July 29 Aug. 24, etc. | N. |
The Abbreviations under Characteristics are as follows:
| V. | Very | Sh. | Short |
| M. | Moderately | B. | Bright |
| Sw. | Swift | F. | Faint |
| Sl. | Slow | Sk. | Streak leaving meteors |
| T. | Train leaving meteors |