The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-21
Philada. Stock Exchange Sales, May 81
Reported by De Haven Bro, NO. 40 s. Third street
SECOND BOARD
Discovery of a New Star.

The following communication appears in the
Boston transcripts you obliee me by max
ing public the extraordinary and interesting
phenomenon of the appearance of new and
brilliant STAR in the heavens, doubtless a Varia-
bic star OF long period
Mr., Seth G. Chandler, Jr, Of Boston, young
astroI omer OF great earnestness and promise,
has been for a considerable time engaged in the
careful determination OF stellar magnitudes,
with view to the discovery of any variability
which may exist and has already found reason
to suspect fluctuations in the brilliancy OF seve-
raj stars heretofore supposed constant On
Monday evening, May a. being about 10 repeat
some observations of the magnitude OF the stars
in the constellation of the Northern Crown, he
perceived a new star in that well-known group,
brighter than any of the others, with one excep-
tion, and certainly brighter than the third
magnitude. The recent untavorable weather
had greatly interfered with observations, but he
ls positive that, three weeks previous no star
was there OF sufficient brightness to attract at
tention.
The new star is close to the star Epsilon
CoronB, from which 1t is distant less than a
degree in declinatlon, and Is this evening very
conspicuous object, being still as bright as any
star but one IN the constellation, although It
seems to have diminished in brilliancy by at
least six tenths OF magnitude within the last
twenty four hours.
On the l4th, at IL O'Clock P. NJ, its brightness
by Mr.. Chambers comparison, was between that
OF Beta and Gamma Herculis rather nearer to
the latter: certainly two1hlrds OF a magnitude
brighter than either Beta CT Gamma Corona, or
Epsilon Herculls, and very decidedly BIZ ghter
than Delta Bootis
Tonight NAV Is, at 9 P. M, IT'S magnitude
was the same as that of Beta Corona or G NINA
Herculis and estimated by MIR. Chandler and
myself as intermediate between the two 1t is
clearly fainter than Delta Boots.
The magnitude of thesestars OF comparison
were thus determined at Albany in 1885,
Beta HeTculis, 2'3 Beta Coron9, 3'5
Delta Boots, 81 Gamma Corone, SO
Epsilon Herculs, ga Epsilon Corong, 80
Gamma Herculis, 35
so that the magnitude of the new star must have
been 2'8 or go last night, and 3'5 tonight.
Clouds have unfortunately prevented any de-
termination OF its place this evening, although
had ht ped TOR a tUle able observation by means
OF transit instrument temporarily in my pos
session. But careful allgnments give rough
position which must be quite near to the truth.
II. A. l5d 53m. Dos. N. Decl. 26d. l8m.
This corresponds with the position OF star of
the 9'5 magnitude Il. g., having about one-seven-
tieth part of the light of the fantest star visible
tothe naked eye) mapped down by Argelander
IN his inspection OF the Northern Heavens
about the year 1866. It does not ppear ever to
have been regularly observed by any astrono-
mer, and must indeed have been beyond the
reach of most meridian instruments. If the
new star be not identical with the very faint
object noted by Argelander, il is so near as
entirely to conceal 1t.
Such phenomena are not entirely unknown in
the annals of astronomy. Besides the we'll
known cases OF the new stars observed by Tycho
Brahe and by Kepler, which suddenly shone
forth with great brilliancy, and disappeared
after short period-the variable star Nara Gets
attains the second magnitude about once in III
Notwithstanding in the interval to extreme
faintnes.; but very few cases are on record where
so great brlllancy has been suddenly mani
tested. The only one fairly comparable with
this seems to have been the "new ar" of 1870.
This appeared suddenly rs star of the third
magnitude, disappeared, shone out once more,
after somewhat more than two years became
invisible, and has so remained.
The extremely rapid diminution Of light dur
ing single dav forbids any confident expecta-
tion OF long visibility for this new accession
to our trmament; but it will probably be con-
spicuous object for some little time to come. IL
May be readily recognized by any one at all
acquainted with the constellation of the North
ern Crown, being Just outside Of, and during
the evening below, the terminal star of the
curve. Very respectfully yours,
B. A. GOULD.
Cambridge, Tuesday evening, May l5, 1866