Learn the Night Sky!

 

If you know the constellations, and memorize the following rhyme you will have ever at hand for reference at night, a reliable time-piece, a compass, and a perpetual calendar.

The numbers above the star names indicate consecutively the months of the year in which these respective objects rise about the first instant in the eastern sky. In addition to first-magnitude stars the rhyme refers to the head of Capricornus, the Sea Goat, the Great Square of Pegasus, and Orion's Belt. All except Arcturus rise between 9 and 9.30 p.m. Arcturus rises at 10 p.m., February 1st.

 

	1
First	Regulus	gleams	on	the	view,
2	3	4
Arcturus,	Spica,	Vega,	blue,
5		6
Antares,	and	Altair,
	7		8		9
The	Goat's	head,	Square,	and	Fomalhaut,
10		11
Aldebaran,	the	Belt,	a-glow,
	12
Then	Sirius	most	fair.

 

 

Eight months of the year are identified by the position of the Dipper at 9 p.m. In April and May it is north of the zenith. During July and August it is west of north. In October and November it lies close to the northern horizon and in January and February it is east of north with the pointers highest