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Western Carolinian Volume 61 Number 05 (06)

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  • 10 Western Carolinian September 28,1995 Environment King of the North Sky Cepheus is Visible Just Below the North Star by Cray Sheedy StaffReporter Cepheus, the husband of Cassiopeia, is near the celestial north pole. He is southeast of Polaris, the north star. The constellation forms a squat tower, topped with a steeple. When Cassiopeia, Cepheus's wife, boasted about her beauty, the sea nymphs got mad. The nymphs asked Neptune, the god of the sea, to punish Cepheus's kingdom. When Cepheus heard about the revenge, he consulted the oracles. They told him the only way to avoid the attack was to sacrifice his daughter Andromeda. Cephues did so, and as a result he was thought to be very weak. According to mythology this is why the stars of Cepheus are so faint. One of the most notable stars in Cepheus is located just below the tower: Mu Cephei, the garnet star. It is very red in color. Mu Cephei is a red supergiant; which means that it is larger than other stars of the same color and temperature. It is easy to view with binoculars or a small telescope. Xi Cephei, a binary system, can be found in the middle of Cepheus. It is also easy to see with a small telescope. Like other double stars, the pair orbit each other. A complete orbit takes about 4000 years. Delta Cephei is located in the bottom of Cepheus. It is also a double star and is visible in binoculars. The most prominent star is a yellow supergiant. The companion star is bluish in color and less obvious than its mate. Delta Cephei is an important star to astronomers. It is a prototype. Astronomers used this star to devise a scale for calculating distances within the universe. By comparing the brightness and energy output of Delta Cephei with other celestial bodies, scientists are able to calculate astronomical distances. Cepheus ^^^^ Polaris ErRai yr^ *L ^ Xi jjfe Alderamin ---||p^-_ Cephei.^^^ " Delta Cephei Mu Cephei To view Cepheus in the night sky you must face geographic north. Next, locate Polaris high on the horizon — it is the brightest object in the north sky. Just below and slightly to the left of Polaris is Er Rai, the star which forms the tip of Cepeus' tower. The rest of the constellation lies below and to the right of Er Rai. "Ginseng," continued from page 9- without the debilitating side effects of other stimulants; 4) stimulates the functions of the endocrine glands, including the sex glands. Sounds like the perfect herb for college students, doesn't it? Besides its obvious advantages in regenerating and maintaining sufficient energy, it has also been suggested that ginseng reduces nervous tension, aids in the treatment of anemia, cancer, tuberculosis, nausea, indigestion, diarrhea, kidney degeneration, gout, rheumatism, herpes, and shock, as well as protecting an organism against radiation damage. (Note: Ginseng is not suggested for people with significantly high blood pressure.) Compared to Oriental ginseng, American ginseng usually contains more saponins within the root, making Panax qunquefolium a very potent and valuable herb. The current average market value for American ginseng is an $360- $385 per lb. of dry root. Because of its innate value ginseng hunters have practically picked the American forests dry, so that it can be sold for profit to both Western and Eastern markets. Because of this, CITES-the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora- identifies American ginseng a endangered species worthy of international protection. Thus, many states have passed laws protect ing the right to grow ginseng on private property, but ginseng ma| not be collected on Federal land without written consent. It is illegal to dig ginseng most state lands, and is strictly forbidden in National Parks unless otherwise permitted-* on legal digging season, if quinquefolius permitted by the land owner, begins September 1. 'The information in this artick provided by Hunter Library J SUN FLAIR £ Tanning & Beauty Salon j H A R Cullowhee's Newest T T £ and Largest! Jl 'HAIR *TAN •NAILS N N A >*«*-«- *. * -. 293-3125 "Where Your Business Is Always Appreciated I ii'
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