Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-21
CAUSED BY COLLISION.
Professor Keeler, of the Observatory,
Tells of the New Star.
STRANGE MANNER OF DISCOVERY,
The Honor Belongs to scotchman Who
WithhOlds His Name.
HARDLY VISIBLE TO TIE EAKRD EYE

The new star in Auriga continues with
such brightness as to make it appear to
accord with the idea that it is variable OF
long period. The later spectroscopic OBJ
servations have seemed to favor this idea
rather than that which was first entertained,
that the new star was the result of col
lision. 1t is still possible, however, that
the increase of brightness observed may
have been the result of the falling into the
star of another mass of meteors.
The discovery of the star was made by
some anonymous party in Scotland, who
sent the result of his observations on a
postal card to Prof Copeland, Astronomer
Royal for Scotland. On the card was the
simple message:,
Nova in Auriga In Milky Way, about
20 south of Chi Aurigae, preceding Aurigae.
Fifth magnitude, slightly brighter than
Chi"
Prof Copeland states in an article in an
Edinburgh paper that his star charts and
the spot indicated. He waited impatiently
for darkness to ascertain whether his un-
known correspondent was dreamer or In
reality the discoverer of star that had es-
capped the notice OF astronomers.
just Visible to the Naked Eye.
'By few minutes past 6, the Professor
continues, "an opera glass revealed the
presence of an unknown star about
81 magnitude, or just visible to the
naked eye, in the place indi-
Gated. The almanac showed that it was not
a planet There then remained only the
spectroscopic test Slowly the somewhat un-
gainly appliances at Calton Hill were
brought into position and at last the tiny
prism did the work. The spectrum of the
stranger seems closely to resemble that of
the new stars of 1866 and 1876-bright
hydrogen lines in the red and blue; bright
carbon bands in the green; bright sodium in
the yellow. This much can be seen at once
with imperfect appliances.
The next day Prof. Copeland tele-
graphed the discovery of his anony-
nous writer to astronomers all over
the world. Director -Keeler, of the
Allegheny Observatory, was one of the
first to receive the news, but on account OF
the cloudy weather and Pittsburg smoke
shutting out all observation, he has not yet
clearly seen the visitor among the heavenly
bodies. In speaking of it yesterday, he
said:
"The new star, think, has been caused
by collision. That is, however, only sup
position. 1t is possible that it was formerly
covered with a crust that in some disturb
ance was broken and flew off into space,
leaving the molten interior visible to
astronomers. Such occurrences are COM
mon. The outside of a body becomes chilled
and losing its brilliancy cannot be seen.
Heralded as a New Body.
If then the crust is broken by any disturb
ance, the star can be seen and is heralded as
a new body, when in reality it may have
been occupying the same position for thou
sands of years.
''The new star occupies at o'clock
position a little south of overhead. 1t
would ordinarily be easily seen, but in the
United States it has been cloudy during the
last ten days, and 1 do not know of any
place where the star has been seen. Even
from the extreme height of the Lick OBJ
servatory it had not day or so ago been
visible. 1t is not usually more cloudy here
than at other places, but the smoke very
greatly interferes with observations. 1t has
been getting worse lately with the increase
of the use of coal. The observatory here is
a great deal higher than the city, but still
the smoke reaches us, and goes far overhead
to cloud the view.
''The new star has no connection with any
other recent occurrences in astronomy"
continued the Professor, in answer to a
question. SIT is out of our system trillions
of miles and could not be Influenced by
either the sun spot or the conjunction Of
Jupiter and Venus. Notwithstanding all
the talk of astrologers, there has been moth
ing unusual in astronomy recently except
the appearance of the new star. The sun
spot was expected, and, as is nearly always
the case, the aurora followed.
The Aurora and Sun Spots.
sT see that writer in THE DISPATCH
claims there is no connection between the
aurora and sun spots. In his statement he
the opinion of nearly all astron-
,mers. 1 have also seen it claimed that the
conjunction of Jupiter and Venus caused
he sun spot. From the fact that both
occurrences were expected, there is no
.eason to believe that one had any relation
% the other.
81 am anxious to see the new star and am
closely tor it. The manner of its
discovery was somewhat singular and is
interesting astronomers all over the world. |
It is strange no one comes forward to claim |
he authorship of the card sent to Prof. |
Copeland. Usually in such cases there are
,lenty Of claimants for the glory, and it is |
probable that number will appear on the |
urface in this case. !"