IES ([=a]'-ri-[=e]z)--THE RAM. (Face Southeast.)

LOCATION.--The star [a] in Aries, known as Hamal, and sometimes as
Arietis, a star of the second magnitude, is about 7[deg] south of [a]
Trianguli. A line drawn from the Pole Star to [g] Andromedae, and
prolonged about 20[deg], ends at Hamal.

Aries contains three principal stars, forming a characteristic
obtuse-angled triangle.

The star [g] Arietis was one of the first double stars discovered. A
telescope is required to split it. Hamal lies near the path of the
moon, and is one of the stars from which longitude is reckoned.

Below Aries may be seen the characteristic pentagon in the head of
Cetus, the Whale.

More than two thousand years ago Aries was the leading constellation
of the zodiac, and now stands first in the list of zodiacal signs.

The Arabians knew this constellation as Al Hamal, the sheep.

[b] and [g] are one instance out of many where stars of more than
ordinary brightness are seen together in pairs, the brightest star
being generally on the east.

[Illustration: ARIES]

CETUS (s[=e]'-tus)--THE WHALE. (Face Southeast.)

LOCATION.--A line drawn from Polaris, to [d] Cassiopeiae, and prolonged
two and one third times its original length, reaches the centre of
this constellation.

It lies just below Aries and the Triangle, and resembles the figure of
the prehistoric icthyosaurus, while some see in the outline an easy
chair. The head of the beast is characterized by a clearly traced
pentagon, about 20[deg] southeast of Aries. The brightest star in the
constellation is [a] of the second magnitude. It is at one apex of the
pentagon, about 15[deg] east of Al Rischa in Pisces, and 37[deg] directly
south of Algol.

The noted variable Mira also known as [o] Ceti is the chief object of
interest in this constellation.

It was discovered by Fabricius in 1596 and varies from the ninth
magnitude to the third or fourth in a period of 334 days. It can be
observed during its entire range with a 3" glass.

In 1779 Mira is reported to have been as bright as the first-magnitude
star Aldebaran. It lies almost exactly on a line joining [g] and [z]
Ceti a little nearer the former. Ten degrees south of it are four
faint stars about 3[deg] apart forming a square.

[t] Ceti is one of our nearest neighbors at a distance of nine light
years.

[z] is a naked-eye double star.

[Illustration: CETUS]

MUSCA (mus'-k[:a])--THE FLY. (Face Southeast.)