Page:Star Lore Of All Ages, 1911.pdf/170

112 across the Milky Way, but Procyon remained behind and wept for Suhail till her eyes became weak."

According to Dr. Elkins, Procyon is nine and one half light years from our system, and Vogel claims that it is approaching us at the rate of nearly six miles a second. It is estimated that it emits anywhere from three to eight times as much light as the sun, and it has a thirteenth magnitude companion, discovered in 1896, revolving about it with a period of revolution of about forty years.

Astrologically this star portended wealth, fame, and good fortune. It comes to the meridian at 9 on the 24th of February.

Beta Canis Minoris is a star of the third magnitude. It was known to the Arabs as "Gomeisa" or "Gomelza" from their name for the constellation, which was "Ghumaisa." This star was noted by Ptolemy, and the Arabs used the distance between this star and Procyon to mark their short cubit, their long cubit being the distance separating Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini.

In spite of the fact that Canis Minor is one of the smallest constellations as regards its bounds, it contains four noted variable stars of long period.