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CHAPTER III

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2011

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Summary

There are many stars which exhibit periodic changes of brilliancy quite unaccounted for by any causes with which we are acquainted; these are termed variable stars. One of the most remarkable is o Ceti (Mira), which was first observed by David Fabricius in 1596. It appears about 12 times in 11 years; remains at its greatest brightness about a fortnight, when it sometimes equals in brilliancy a star of the 2nd magnitude; decreases during about 3 months till it becomes totally invisible; it remains so for about 5 months, and then gradually recovers its brilliancy during the remaining 3 months of its period. Its maximum brightness is not always the same, nor does it always increase or diminish by the same gradations. According to Hevelius, nothing was seen of it between October, 1672, and December, 1676. Algol (β Persei) is another well-known instance of this kind. For about 2d. 13h. it shines as an ordinary star of the 2nd magnitude. In about 3½ hours it is reduced to the 4th magnitude, and thus remains about 20 minutes; it then rapidly increases to the 2nd, and continues so for another period of 2d. 23h., when similar changes recur.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010
First published in: 1861

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  • CHAPTER III
  • George Frederick Chambers
  • Book: A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy
  • Online publication: 05 July 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511709937.045
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  • CHAPTER III
  • George Frederick Chambers
  • Book: A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy
  • Online publication: 05 July 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511709937.045
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • CHAPTER III
  • George Frederick Chambers
  • Book: A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy
  • Online publication: 05 July 2011
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511709937.045
Available formats
×