The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-25

BOSTON, Feb. 25.-One of the most i'm
portant astronomical discoveries in sew
eraI years was announced by a telegram
received from Rev. Dr. T. D. Anderson. Of
Edinburgh, which stated that he had dis
covered a new star in the constellation
Perseus.
With great interest. Dr. Pickering, Mrs.
". P. Fleming, curator of the astronomi-
cal photographs. and the other members OF
the stan at the Harvard Observatory, OBJ
served the star through the clouds and ex-
amined Haryard's priceless set of photo
graphs Of the sky with important results
as to its history, magnitude, and spec
trum-
b. reference to the charts of that sec
ton Of the sky where the new star was
reported 20 be the Harvard astronomers
were able TO say that the star on Febru-
airy 10 was fainter than the magnitude
I0.5: and this result was confirmed by
photographs taken on February 2, 6. s,
and Is.
This technical statement means that
the photographs taken before February 10
did not reveal the presence of the star,
although later examination OF them may
throw additional light On this point; but
the photograph of February 10 indicated
the stars presence for the first time
The star then shone so family that it
Was difficult to see It with the naked eye,
but within four days it had fared up
greatly. Such rapid increase in light
giving or magnitude is exceptional in new
stars On February q. when Dr. Ander-
son first noticed the star. it was of magnI-
tude q Saturday evening the star was Of
the first magnitude. It is said 10 be the
brightest new star which has appeared IN
three centuries. The position Of the heav-
emily visitor : right ascension 3 hours %
minutes q seconds and declinatiOn plus
l. degrees 81 minutes
The person who wishes to find the new
star VIII be able to distinguish it il the
sky is reasonably clear by following these
directions About s D m look directly
overhead and note the very bright star,
which IS CapeIla, in the zenith; then look
directly west of Capeila, toward the hOri-
ZOl- The star there. nearly as bright as
CapeLa, IS the new star; it IS distant from
the north stan about twice - far as from
CapeIIa.
Dr. Anderson thought the color Of the
animation CT the Photographic plates at
Harvard threw some light upon the origin
Of the star, but the conclusions must be
verified by further examinations and the
aid Of additional photographs. Il can be
said, however that the spectrum IS Pc
cuIiar.
The spectrum differs from that Of near
~ every previous new star; ms cad CT
consisting largely Of a number of bright
/ lines, which are due 20 hydrogen ana
other substances, this spectrum IS con
tfnUOus and tr2yeTsed by narrow dark
/ lines which appear 10 be bTigh edged on
the side CT greater wave length
SANDY SPRING Md, Feb 25-A
strange visitor was noticed last night in
the northwestern part Of the heavens
after the clouds passed away. \ brill ant
star, Invisible before, but now riyaIing
Capella and surprising most stars Of the
first magnitude, was seen IN the cCnsteI-
{ lation Perseus, near the noted variable
star AIgoL Il shone with a scft yellow
ish IusteT, being especially beautiful
about midnight when the neon had set
The star was IN the same quarter of h
sky where the wonderful star observed
b. Tycho Brahe made its appearance in
the sixteenth century Il is related by
the Danish astronomer that this historic
IUm.aary was brighter than Venus OF
Jupiter and could he seen with thz unas-
/ sisted eye at MONDAY. Can the new ce-
lestial phenomenon be the same?
The new star was observed here for the
first time by DR.. Edward Farquhar. Of
Washington, on Friday night. The doctor
is now at Sandy Spring. and with a party
Of persons interested in astronomy much
enjoyed the phenomenon Saturday night.