The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-12-16 00:00:00

A NEW STAR

Every large telescope in Europe will be directed for
the next few days to the constellation Cygnus, where
one of those interesting phenomena, a new atar, has
made its appearance (remarks the Standard). So
accurately and carefully is the chart of the stars now
laid down, so thoroughly are the heavens swept nightly
by the telescopes of tae observatories of the old and
new worlds, that a star appearing where no star has
been hitherto observed is certain to attract atten-
tion in a very short time. The new star
was discovered on the 24th of November by
Professor Schmidt, dircctor of the Obiervatory
at Athens. It was then a star of the third
magnitude, indeed, brighter than the star of that mag-
nitude with which it was compared. On the 6th of
December the observer at the Observatory of Paris
found it to be equal only in magnitude to a star of the
fifth magnitude„ so that, like the changeable stars of
VAS and 1866, the greatest brilliancy lasted but a
short time, and in another week it will not improbably
have disappeared altogether. Unfortunately the thick
weather which has prevailed lately has prevented many
observations being taken of this new star, but the
spectrum was made out to be that of incandercant gas.
Pioese phenomena are rare, and of much interest, and
the mind fails to grasp the trpoendous catastrophe
which this brief appearance indicates as having taken
place. No imagination can conceive the awful gran-
deur of a conflagration so tremendous that a star
hitherto unseen should assume the appearance of one
of the third magnitude; and yet greater outbreaks
than this have been recorded, in one instance the star
undergoing an apparent increase of ?size until it rivalled
those of the first magnitude. It is unfortunate that
the weather has been so unfavourable for examination
during the time that this interesting and unusual phe-
nomenon was at its highest point.

BEST WEAPON Fon KILLING
Minirte-Gun.—Punch. .
SAVMG • PowDER.—A naval correspondent
writes to the Pall Mall Gazette :—" The Admiralty
have issued a circular piecing naval salutes on a new
basis which, has been agreed to \by all the maritime
Powers of Europe. Hereafter salutes will not be re-
turned to Royal personages, chiefs of State, or mem-
bers of. Royal families, or to . dip/omatic, naval,
military; or consular authorities. or -foreigners of high
distinction, whether upon arrival or departure at a
port, or on visiting ?her Majesty's .ships, nor wilt
salutes be returned when frad to celebrate national
festivals or anniversaries. Salutes from Her Majesty's&
ships will be returned gun for gun to the national flag
on arrival at a foreign port, to foreign flag officers, and
commodores when met with at sea or in harbour.
Selutes,to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and to the
YtAcer°Y °L_lnclias are. not returned. ,When, UT flag c,f
T-404.511t4gtx 4.drPirisl, or, the Lords Conamissioaers
of the Admiralty is saluted by a foreign ship of war,
on her arrival or on meeting, such salute will be re-
turned gun for gun. These rules are to come into
general operation on and after the let of July, um"