erecting temples in which he was worshiped. The brightest star in the constellation of Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer, is Ras Alhague, although this name has gone entirely out of use and the star is generally designated as α Ophiuchi._-_figure_062.jpg)
This star lies on the head of Ophiuchus which is about three-quarters of the way up from the horizon to the zenith, when on the meridian. It rises a little north of east, appearing When the sun sets on the 14th of May, and requiring 6 hours and 46 minutes to reach the line midway between east and west. Ras Algethi (α Herculis), a beautiful orange colored star on the head of Hercules, is usually noted in connection with Ras Alhague, since they stand rather isolated only about 6 degrees apart. (The distance between the "Pointers" on the outer side of the Big Dipper is equal to 5 degrees.) When Ras Algethi and Ras Alhague are near the meridian, a glance of the eye beyond will meet two stars of the 2nd magnitude also not far apart. These are "The Dragon's Eyes," Alwaid and Etanin. Recalling that Hercules has his foot on the Dragon's head, that the head stars of the two giants' lie almost together, and the feet of the lower giant, Ophiuchus, are crushing down Scorpio, the Scorpion (a conspicuous anchor shaped constellation in the south), one has a fairly good idea of this section of the sky from the Pole Star to the horizon, when Ras Alhague and Ras Algethi are near the meridian. Since both Hercules and Ophiuchus have very large but also very inconspicu-
[110]
