Page:The Music of the Spheres.djvu/128

 Way, where its framework was adorned by a group of stars, one of which is exceptionally bright, vividly blue and very beautiful. This blue star is called the "Harp Star," or Vega, by astronomers.

Vega rises in the far northeast in the early evenings during the first of May but during July and August it passes almost overhead. When near the rim of the northern horizon yellow and red fires dart out amidst the blue, but when high above in the dome of the sky, its color is pure and coldly blue, a decided contrast to the golden warmth of Arcturus, which lies not far to the west of it.

In consequence of the precession of the equinoxes, in less than 12,000 years Vega will be the nearest bright star to the pole; in-