Back Matter

Sky Chart Insert

The Sky In Winter

Note. —These simplified star maps are not as accurate as a planisphere, but they may be easier for children. All star maps are like ordinary maps, except that east and west are transposed. The reason for this is that you can hold a star map over your head, with the pole star toward the north, and the map will then match the sky. These maps contain some constellations that are only for grown-ups to study. The Winter constellations every child should know are:

The Sky In Spring

Note. —Once upon a time all the educated people spoke Latin. It was the nearest approach to a universal language. So most of the constellations have Latin names. The English, French and German names are all different, but if all children would learn the Latin names they could understand one another. The Spring constellations every child should know are:

The Sky In Summer

Note. —Every sky map is good for three months, in this way: If this is correct on June 1st at 10 P.M., it will be correct July 1st at 8 P.M., and August 1st at 6 P.M. This is because the stars rise four minutes earlier every night. Thus, after thirty days, any star will rise thirty times four minutes earlier, or 120 minutes, or two hours. Children need not learn all the Summer constellations. The most interesting are:

The Sky In Autumn

Note. —This book tells how to find all the most interesting stars and constellations without maps, but many people prefer them. How to use star maps is explained under "The Sky in Winter." The Autumn constellations most interesting to children are: