A Midsummer Night by Augusta Wolcott Heald

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 11, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 31.

A Midsummer Night

By Augusta Wolcott Heald

Interesting Suns and Constellations

“'Tis the middle watch of a summer's night. The earth is dark, but the heavens are bright. Naught is seen in the vault on high But the moon, and the stars, and the cloudless sky, And the flood which rolls its milky hue, A river of light on the welkin blue.” —Joseph Rodman Drake.

THE great planet Jupiter may now be seen in the eastern evening sky, a most beautiful object. Our modest telescope shows it the apparent size of the full moon, and attended by four lovely satellites. These little moons are very interesting. Sometimes they are all on one side, again two on each side, and often one is just emerging from the shadow, every night presenting a different appearance. The diameter of Jupiter is eleven times that of earth. Nearly twelve of our years are required for its revolution around the sun. It turns on its axis in ten hours, thus making its days and nights each about five hours long.

In the southeast the great constellation Scorpio rears its kite-shaped form, bright red Antares glowing at its heart, the trail and the sting gleaming with bright stars, some of which are naked-eye doubles.

THE ARC LIGHT OF THE SKY

Beautiful Vega, the leading star of Lyra, is nearing the meridian. It is often called the “arc light of the sky,” from its clear bluish light. With the aid of an opera-glass or a field-glass, many lovely double stars are seen in the constellation Lyra.

North of Lyra appears the great Cross of Cygnus, with the bright star Deneb, and many fine field-glass doubles. Steel-blue Altair shines out in the east, and with Vega and Deneb forms a large triangle.

“CANST THOU GUIDE ARCTURUS?”

Somewhat past the meridian, the Great Dipper glows forth in regal splendor, with its seven bright stars, the two lower ones known as “pointers” to the pole-star. Following the curve indicated by the handle of the Dipper, we behold the great sun Arcturus, sparkling with brilliant colors,—the same mentioned by the Idumean seer,—“Canst thou guide Arcturus with his suns?” Job 38:32. Prolonging the curve, we find silvery Spica, the leading star of Virgo.

Leo, the Lion, is quite low in the west; but we can see Regulus in the breast, and Denebola in the tail. A straight line from the handle of the Dipper to Denebola cuts the charming constellation Berenice's Hair about half way between the two.

These are only a few of the starry gems we have traced on this midsummer night. We feel that the hour has been a profitable one. The contemplation of these glowing orbs is a source of deepest enjoyment. We forget the daily struggle, perplexities, and trials, and seem for the moment to catch a gleam of infinity. Our hearts are filled with deeper yearnings for the dawn of that glorious morning when our God shall “make all things new,”—when the dear ones who sleep in Jesus “shall come again from the land of the enemy,” and we with them shall, as we trust, be permitted to “see the King in His beauty,” and to “behold the land that is very far off,” where “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” Dan. 12:3. AUGUSTA WOLCOTT HEALD.