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A FIELD BOOK
OF
THE STARS
BY
WILLIAM TYLER OLCOTT
Second Edition, revised and enlarged
WITH FIFTY DIAGRAMS
G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS
NEW YORK AND LONDON
The Knickerbocker Press
COPYRIGHT, 1907
BY
WILLIAM TYLER OLCOTT
Copyright, 1914
BY
WILLIAM TYLER OLCOTT
(For Second Edition)
Printed in the United States of America[Pg iii]
INTRODUCTION.
Considering the ease with which a knowledge of the constellations canbe acquired, it seems a remarkable fact that so few are conversantwith these time-honored configurations of the heavens. Aside from aknowledge of "the Dipper" and "the Pleiades," the constellations tothe vast majority, are utterly unknown.
To facilitate and popularize if possible this fascinating recreationof star-gazing the author has designed this field-book. It is limitedin scope solely to that purpose, and all matter of a technical ortheoretical nature has been omitted.
The endeavor has been to include in these pages only such matter asthe reader can observe with the naked eye, or an opera-glass.Simplicity and brevity have been aimed at, the main idea being thatwhatever is bulky or verbose is a hindrance rather than a help whenactually engaged in the observation of the heavens.
The constellations embraced in this manual are only those visible fromthe average latitude of the New England and Middle States, and owetheir place in the particular season in which they are found to thefact that in that season they are favorably situated for observation.
With this brief explanatory note of the purpose and design of thebook, the author proceeds to outline the scheme of study.[Pg v]
SCHEME OF STUDY.
The table of contents shows the scheme of study to be pursued, and tofacilitate the work it is desirable that the student follow thetherein circumscribed order.
A knowledge on the part of the reader of Ursa Major, or "the Dipper"as it is commonly called, and "the Pleiades," the well-known group inTaurus, is presupposed by the author.
With this knowledge as a basis, the student is enabled in any seasonto take up the study of the constellations. By following out the orderdictated, he will in a few nights of observation be enabled toidentify the various configurations making up the severalconstellations that are set apart for study in that particular season.
A large plate, showing the appearance of the heavens at a designatedtime on the first night of the quarter, is inserted before eachseason's work. This should be consul