The Book of Stars: Being a Simple Explanation of the Stars and Their Uses to Boy Life

According to the official Handbook of the Boy Scouts, if you are a Scout and want to win a merit badge for starcraft, you must

(1) Have a general knowledge of the nature of the stars and planets.

(a) By the nature of the stars and planets is meant their colors and what they are made of. Their sizes and their distances from the Earth in a general way may also be included.

(b) It is easy to tell the color of both the stars and the planets by looking at them, or by looking them up in the foregoing chapters.

(c) The spectroscope shows that the stars are made of metals and gases and other substances which we have on Earth. The planets are probably made of the same kinds of metals, gases and substances as those which form the Earth, but there is no way of proving this, for the planets shine by reflected light, and in this case the spectroscope is of little use.

(d) The stars are known to be suns as large or larger than our Sun; while the planets are about as large as our Earth—some smaller and some larger.

(e) All of the planets are within 2,800 millions of miles of the Earth, while the nearest star, except our Sun, is 25 trillions of miles from the Earth, or 8,000 times as far away.

(2) Have a general knowledge of the movements of the stars and planets.

(a) While all the stars revolve in orbits and are moving through space at high speed, they are so far away from us that they seem to be fixed and for all practical purposes they may be considered to be fixed in their positions.

(b) All the planets turn on their own axes and travel in orbits round the Sun.

(3) Point out and name 12 principal constellations.

(a) Twelve easy constellations are: (1) The Big Dipper; (2) The Little Dipper; (3) Cassiopeia; (4) Pegasus; (5) Orion; (6) Auriga and (7) Taurus, all of which are shown in Chapters I and II; (8) Gemini; (9) Leo; (10) Virgo; (11) The Scorpion, and (12) Sagittarius, which are constellations of the zodiac, and are shown in Chapter XI.

(4) Find the North by means of other stars than the Pole Star (which is the North Star) in case that star is obscured by clouds.

(a) This can be done by finding the constellation of Cassiopeia, see Chapter I; and also by Pegasus; Auriga and Orion, as explained in Chapter II.

(5) Have a general knowledge of the positions and movements of the Earth, Sun, Moon, and the Planets; and of tides, eclipses, meteors and comets.

(a) By reading the chapters on the Sun, Planets, Earth and Moon and

(b) Other things in the sky carefully, you will be able to pass the requirements named in No. 5.

(6) Plot on at least two nights per month for six months the positions of all naked eye planets visible between sundown and one hour thereafter. The plot of each planet shall contain at least three fixed stars with their names or designations; colors of planets and stars are to be recorded as observed.

(a) How to plot the position of a planet is fully explained in the chapter on Planets, but you should also read the one on The Stars of the Zodiac, and have a good star map (App. O).

The following important constellations are not described in the foregoing chapters of this book. They can be found, though, without trouble, since a star of the first magnitude is located in each.

Canis Major, the Big Dog, is a winter constellation, and can be seen on your meridian at 9 o’clock P. M. in February. Look for it in the southern sky and you will quickly find it because of the dazzling brightness of Sirius, the Dog Star.

Bootes (pronounced Bo-ō´-tes), the Bear Leader, is a summer constellation, and can be seen on the meridian at 9 o’clock P. M. in June. It is to the north of the ecliptic, or path of the Sun. It lies between a crown of stars and Virgo. You can’t miss it, for midway is Arcturus, a red star of the first magnitude.

Lyra, the Lyre.—Is a summer constellation, and can be seen on the meridian at 9 o’clock P. M. in August. Look for it almost overhead, and you can’t mistake it, for three bright stars, of which Vega is one, form a triangle.

Canis Minor.—The Little Dog: is a spring constellation, and can be seen on the meridian at 9 o’clock P. M. in March. It lies to the south of the constellation of Gemini, the Twins, and Cancer, the Crab. In it you will see Procyon, the Little Dog Star.

Aquila, the Eagle.—Is a summer constellation, and can be seen on the meridian in August. Look for it south of Lyra, and far to the west of Pegasus. The star that put Aquila on the map is Altair.

Cygnus, the Swan.—Is also a summer constellation, and can be seen on your meridian at 9 o’clock P. M. in September. You will find it north of Pegasus and east of Lyra, and in it you will see the Northern Cross clearly traced out with seven stars, the brightest one being Deneb, a first magnitude star.

Piscis Australis, the Southern Fish, is an inconspicuous constellation far south of the Equator. Fomalhaut, its brightest star comes only 20 degrees above our horizon and must be looked for when it is near the meridian—about 9 o’clock P. M. in October.

You can easily notice that the stars differ in color. The following list gives the colors of a few of the brighter stars:

• White Stars:  Sirius, Regulus, Vega.
• Blue Stars:  Rigel and Spica.
• Red Stars:    Aldebaran, Antares, and Betelgeux.
• Green Stars:  B Librae.
• Yellow Stars: The Sun, Arcturus, and Capella.

When two stars are very close together they form what is called a double star, but double stars of which the two components are really near together in space and revolve around each other usually cannot be resolved, that is separated, into two stars without the aid of a telescope.

The North Star; Rigel, Castor; Procyon and Sirius, are all famous double stars.

A variable star is one whose brightness changes from time to time. A great many variable stars are known, but very few of them can be seen with the naked eye. There are different reasons given for a star varying in brightness. Our Sun is a variable star, and we are told that this is due to his spots. Another type of variation is perhaps produced by pulsations—the star periodically expanding and contracting. Again a double star formed of two bright stars which revolve round each other, as many double stars do, may eclipse one another, and this would cause a change in brightness. Here, then, are three good reasons for a star being variable.

The following are a few of the variables which can be seen with the naked eye:

• Betelgeux, in Orion.
• Alpha Cassiopeia, that is, the brightest star in Cassiopeia.
• Beta Lyra, that is, the second brightest star in Lyra, and
• Beta Pegasus, that is, the second brightest star in Pegasus.
• Mira, in Cetus.
• Algol, in Perseus.

Stars are born, live and die, just like human beings. All the stars, including the Sun, are either in the process of making, are at their brightest brilliancy, are dying out, or are cold and dead or have not yet become bright.

Procyon and Sirius is each attended by a comparatively dark companion. Procyon and Sirius both move slowly back and forth a short distance in the sky and this motion was attributed to the pull of satellites long before these bodies were discovered with the telescope.

A useful chart, designed by Miss E. Rebecca Ellis, of Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass. It makes clear the changes in the lengths of the day, the phenomena of the seasons, etc. Its price is $1.00.

This map, prepared by Prof. R. S. Dugan of Princeton University, shows the constellations as far south as the Southern Cross and is adjustable for the time of night, date, and for the latitude. Full instructions are given for its use. It is used in many schools and colleges. It is sold by the Camp Fire Stores Co., price 19 cents.