These letters will be sufficient to distinguish the principal fixed Stars. In the following directions, the letter for any Star is merely attached to the name of the Constellation. Thus, Aldebaran is marked a Taurus, and Pollux, & Gemini. It may, however, be observed, that the proper designation of these Stars is a Tauri and B Geminorum; the meaning being a in Taurus, & in Gemini, and the same may be understood of the others.

The distances between the Stars which are given in the following directions are to the nearest half-degree, and may be readily measured with a Quadrant or Sextant.†

The bearing is the azimuth circle which a Star is in, when the Stai from which the bearing is given is in the zenith: from this bearing, the direction between the two Stars is easily estimated at any other time. The Stars are distinguished in the usual astronomical method; that is, by giving the name of the Constellation in which a Star is situated, with the Greek letter which marks the given Star prefixed, and when the Star has a proper name, such as Aldebaran, Castor, &c., it is also given. The names of the Stars used in the Nautical Almanac for finding the longitude by lunar observations, are printed in small capitals, the names of the others in italics. The number included in a parenthesis after the name of a Star, refers to the magnitude of the Star. Thus Sirius (1) signifies that Sirius is of the first magnitude; and a Aquile or Altair (1, 2) means that this Star is between the first and second magnitudes.

As the Pleiades or Seven Stars are almost universally known, and can be seen in all parts of the habitable globe, we shall commence at this point, and first give directions for knowing the principal Stars in and near the zodiac, next for the Stars in the Northern Hemisphere, and, lastly, for those in the Southern Hemisphere.

DIRECTIONS FOR FINDING THE PRINCIPAL FIXED STARS IN AND NEAR THE ZODIAC.

The Pleiades, or Seven Stars, are in the Constellation Taurus, thei declination is about 23° N., and they pass the meridian a few minutes before 9 P.M., on the first day of the year. Nearly S.E. by E. from the Pleiades, at the distance of 14°, is a Taurus, or ALDEBARAN (1). This Star, which is sometimes called the Bull's Eye, has a reddish appearance, and is very easily known. Nearly in a line from the Pleiades, through ALDEBARAN, at the distance of 16° from the latter, is y Orion, or Bellatrix (2): about 74° E., a little northerly from Bellatrix, is a Orion, or Betelguese (1): this Star has a reddish appearance nearly like ALDEBARAN. About 93° S.W. of Betelguese are three Stars of the

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The instrument, called a Cross Staff, which was formerly used in observing altitudes at sea, would measure the angular distance between two Stars with suffi

second magnitude, nearly in the same line with each other: these Stars are in the Belt of Orion. Nearly in a line from Betelguese, through the middle Star in the Belt of Orion, and at the distance of 9° from the Belt is 6 Orion, or Rigel (1): 81° E. 1° S. from Rigel, and in a line from Bellatrix through the northern part of Orion's Belt, is x Orion (2, 3). Bellatrix, Betelguese, Rigel, and x Orion, form a trapezium round Orion's Belt, which is sometimes called the Square of Orion.

Nearly in the same line with the Pleiades and Orion's Belt, and about 21° S.E. of the Southern Star of the Belt, is a Canis Major, or Sirius (1): this Star is often called the Dog Star; it is the brightest Fixed Star in the heavens. About 26° nearly East of Betelguese, and nearly the same distance N.E. of Sirius, is a Canis Minor, or Procyon (1, 2). Sirius, Betelguese, and Procyon form nearly an equilateral triangle. A line from Rigel through the middle of Orion's Belt will point out a Gemini, or Castor (1), the distance between Rigel and Castor being about 53°: 44° to the S.E. of Castor is Gemini or POLLUX (1): this Star passes the meridian about eleven minutes after Castor, and about 43 minutes after Procyon.

At the distance of 37° from Procyon, and nearly in a line with it and the Southern Star in Orion's Belt, is a LEO or REGULUS (1); and nearly in the same line, at the distance of 24° E. by N. from REGULUS is 6 LEO or Deneb (2): about 35° E.N.E. from Deneb, or a little North of a line from REGULUS through Deneb, is a Bootes or Arcturus (1): about 33° S.S.W. of Arcturus, and 35° S.E. of Deneb, is a Virgo or SPICA (1). Deneb, Arcturus, and SPICA form nearly an equilateral triangle, and nearly in the centre of this triangle ise Virgo or Vindemiatrix (2, 3).

Nearly in a line from REGULUS, through SPICA, at the distance of 461° from the latter, is a Scorpio, or ANTARES (1): this Star has a reddish appearance, like ALDEBARAN, or Betelguese. A little North of a line joining SPICA and ANTARES, and about 21° from SPICA, is a Libra, or Zubenesch (2, 3): this is a double Star, about 9° N.E. of Zubenesch, is 6 Libra, or Zubenelg (2, 3). At the distance of 60° N.E. by E. from ANTARES, is a Aquila, or ALTAIR: this Star may also be known by its being 100° E. by N. from SPICA, and a little North of a line from SPICA, through Zubenelg, and by its being situated in the southern border of the Milky Way, considerably distant from any other bright Star.

About 14° N.E. by E. of ALTAIR are four Stars of the third or fourth magnitude, in the Constellation Delphinus: these four Stars are very near each other, and form a kind of lozenge or diamond figure. A line from ALTAIR, through this figure, at the distance of 49° from ALTAIR, will point out ẞ Pegasus, or Scheat (2). 14° E. of Scheat, is a Andromeda, or Alpheratz (2). 14° S., a little westerly from Alpheratz, is y Pegasus, or Algenib (2). 17° nearly West of Algenib, and 13° S. of Scheat, is a Pegasus or MARCAB (2). Scheat, Alpheratz,

Pegasus, or the Flying Horse; MARCAB being in the South-West corner of the Square.

A line from Scheat, through MARCAB, being produced to the distance of 44° from the latter Star, will point out a Pisces Australis, or FOMALHAUT (1). ALTAIR, MARCAB, and FOMALHAUT form nearly a right-angled triangle, the right angle being at MARCAB. Nearly in a line joining MARCAB and the Pleiades, and about 23° W. of the latter, is a Aries, or ARIETIS (2, 3). ARIETIS may also be known by being a little to the South-West of a line from Betelguse, through ALDEBARAN, its distance from the latter Star being 36°. About 4° S.W. by W. from ARIETIS is Aries (3). 23° S.E. by S. from ARIETIS, 6 and a little North of a line from Betelguese through Bellatrix, at the distance of 36° from the latter Star, is a Cetus, or Menkar (2). Menkar may also be known by being in a line with Rigel and Algenib, and rather nearer to Rigel than to Algenib. About 5° W.S.W. of Menkar is y Cetus (3).

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DIRECTIONS FOR KNOWING THE PRINCIPAL FIXED STARS IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.

The Pole Star, or a Ursa Minor, is very generally known. This Star is between the second and third magnitudes, and is situated in the point of the tail of the Little Bear. A line from Procyon through Castor will nearly fall into the Pole Star, at the distance of 58° from Castor.

The most conspicuous Constellation near the North Pole is Ursa Major, or the Great Bear; there are seven bright Stars in this Constellation, between the first and third magnitudes. When these Stars are near the meridian, above the Pole, the four western Stars form a trapezium, and because a line through the two Stars farthest to the westward will nearly fall into the Pole Star; they are called the Pointers. The northern pointer is a Ursa Major, or Dubhe (2, 1) ; and the southern pointer, or that farthest from the Pole Star, is 6 Ursa Major (2). The most northern of the two eastern Stars of the trapezium is Ursa Major, and the other is 7. These four Stars are in the body of the Great Bear. The three remaining Stars are in the tail; that next the body is Ursa Major, or Alioth (2, 3); the next to this is, or Alcor (2, 3); and the one in the point of the tail is ʼn, or Benetnasch (2, 3). The seven most conspicuous Stars in Ursa Minor form a figure which has a great resemblance to that formed by the seven Stars already described in Ursa Major; a Ursa Minor, or the Pole Star, being, as before observed, in the point of the tail.

A line from Rigel to the Pole Star will nearly intersect & Auriga, or Capella (1). This Star is 43° from the Pole Star, and 54° from Rigel. Capella may also be known by its being in a line from Menkar through the Pleiades, and about 28° to the N.E. of that cluster.

Nearly in a line between Benetnasch, the Star in the point of the tail of the Great Bear, and Deneb, in the tail of the Lion, is a Cor Caroli (3). This Star is about 28° from Deneb, and 144° from Benetnasch. A little East of a line joining a Cor Caroli and Deneb, is the nebulous Constellation of Coma Berenices.

About 26° from the Pole Star, and nearly in a line joining it and Arcturus, is a Draco (2, 3). About 19° E.N.E. of Arcturus, and nearly in a line with Dubhe and Alcor, is a Corona Borealis, or Alphacca (2). Alphacca, and seven other Stars of the fourth and fifth magnitudes, form a circular figure, which is very easily distinguished: these eight Stars are all in the Constellation of the Northern Crown.

A line from Arcturus, through the northern part of the circular figure in the Northern Crown, will point out a Lyra, or Vega (1); the distance between Arcturus and Vega being 59°. About 24° E.N.E. of Vega is a Cygnus, or Arided (2, 1).† Vega, Arided, and ALTAIR, form nearly a right-angled triangle, the right angle being at Vega. ALTAIR is about 34° from Vega, and 38° from Arided.

About 18° N.N.E. from Arided is a Cepheus, or Alderamin (3); and 2010 E. by N. from Alderamin is B Cassiopeia (2, 3): this Star, Scheat, and Arided, form nearly an equilateral triangle, the side of which is about 330. At the distance of 5° nearly East of B Cassiopeia is a Cassiopeia, or Schedar (2, 3). Some of the Stars in the Constellation of Cassiopeia form a figure which resembles a chair.

A line from Alioth (the Star in the tail of the Great Bear, which is nearest to the body), through the Pole Star, being continued, will pass through the middle of the Constellation of Cassiopeia: the principal Stars in this Constellation are nearly at the same distance from the Pole Star as those of the Great Bear.

Nearly in a line with Schedar and B Cassiopeia, at the distance of 19° from Schedar, is y Andromeda, or Almaach (2); and about 13° W.S.W. of Almaach, is ẞ Andromeda, or Mirach (2): this Star, with B Cassiopeia and Almaach, forms nearly a right-angled triangle, the right angle being at Almaach.

About 12° E.S.E. from Almaach is ẞ Perseus, or Algol: this is one of the most remarkable of the Variable Stars, it being when brightest of the second magnitude, and when least bright only of the fourth. About 94° N.N.E. of Algol is a Perseus, or Algenib (2): this Star may also be known by being nearly in a line with POLLUX and Capella, and about 19° to the W.N.W. of the latter.

†This Star is often called Deneb, as well as Arided; we have chosen the latter name in order to distinguish it from Deneb in the tail of the Lion.

DIRECTIONS FOR FINDING THE PRINCIPAL FIXED STARS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

A little West of a line from ALDEBARAN through Rigel, at the distance of 46° from the latter Star, is a Argo Navis, or Canopus (1): this is a very bright Star, and may also be known by its being a little East of a line from Castor through Sirius, and about 37 nearly South of the latter Star. About 20° N.N.W. of Canopus, is a Columba Noachi (2).

In a line from Betelguese through Sirius, and about 73° from the latter Star, are four bright Stars, forming the Constellation called Crux, or the Cross. The Stars in this Constellation are disposed as follows: a (1) is the most southern Star, and is in the foot of the Cross; B (1, 2) is in the Eastern arm; y (2) in the head, and (3) in the Western arm. About 12° E. N. E. of a Crux, is 8 Centaurus (1), and 5° East of this Star, is a Centaurus (1).†

About 42° East, a little Northern from a Centaurus, and 52° S. by E. of ANTARES, is a Pavo (2). About 40° East of a Pavo, and 39° S. E. by S. of FOMALHAUT, is a Eridanus, or Achernar; these three Stars form nearly an equilateral triangle.

A line from Castor through POLLUX, will point out a Hydra, or Alphard (2); this Star being about 44° to the S. E. of POLLUX, and 23° S. S. W. of REGULUS. Procyon, Alphard, and REGULUS form nearly a right angled triangle, the right angle being at Alphard.

ON FINDING the Latitude BY THE FIXED STARS.

The best times for observing the Altitude of a Star, is during the morning or evening twilight, or when there is moonlight; the horizon being more distinct at these times than it is when the night is dark. A little practice will, however, enable a person to take the Altitude of a Star with sufficient accuracy, for nautical purposes, during any tolerably clear night.

When observing the Altitude of a Star by the common Quadrant, the horizon will be better seen if the sight vane be turned horizontally, and the sight directed over it, instead of through the hole.

↑ It must be observed, that when circumpolar Stars are near the meridian below the Pole, the bearing or direction between the Stars appears to be reversed: thus the pointers to the North Pole Star, which are the two western of the seven bright Stars in the Great Bear, appear to be to the eastward of the others, when that constellation is near the meridian below the Pole.