Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05

MRS. FLEMING, curator of astronomical
AvA photographs at the Harvard Observa-
tory has recently detected on a plate COW
ering portion of the constellation Sagittarius
and in the southern border of the Milky Way
an unusual number of red stars. In a neigh
boring region she found a deficiency of red
stars, but variable star of the fourth type,
and two gaseous nebul9, masses of glowing
gas, the material from which it is believed
stars are made.
Each star may be considered to go through
a series of changes resembling those of
human being from the cradle to the grave.
In its infancy, star is simply nebulous mass,
gradually condensing into helum star with
| the nebulous tendrils still clinging round the
central mass of star dust. The entire region of
the constellation Orion is interviewer with this
star dust, which envelops the Pleads in flmy
drapery and forms a nebulous background for
the stars in the Milky Way Photographs
of this region of the sky show stars gittering in
vast beds of glowing gas, which are apparently
in the course of development from the original
star mist now surrounding them Elsewhere
in the Milky Way photographs reveal great
riffs and open spaces, which were termed by
-Herschel Windows of Heaven" giving
glimpse of the awful depths of space beyond
"Where no faintest CLEAN comes ever;
But the power of Night dwells stupendous and
sublime.
Limitless void, and lonely,
region mute with age, and peopled only
lived eternites ago.
The helium stars glide impreceptib1y into
the Sirian stage of star life distinguished by
blue white stars like Sirius and Vega,
the former adjoining the winter and the latter
the summer sky These stars are the flowers
of the sky in full bloom; but in the course of
vast periods of time they turn yellow, like
Capella, Polfux, and our own bright day
star, the sun, and finally change into red or
variable stars denoting old age
hoe To
Frail as your silken sisters of the field"
Some of Them Flicker Out
SOMETIMES a sudden outburst proclaims
- their extinction, or they flicker out like the
fame of lamp turned low. This stellar flicker
ing has been observed in what are termed
| carbon stars, which belong to the fourth type
and among the most exclusive residents of
the sky. They seem to make point of hold
ing aloof from the common herd, showing
marked preference for the Milky Way. Never
| theless, their pedigree is in truth highly
obscure, and though Nature has given US hints
as to the former history of their origin, she
has SO far kept the actual facts secret. Yet,
| in all probability the spectroscope which has
succeeded in revealing to many stellar
facts. may in the course of time unravel this
problem.
We have no doubt, however from the reve
lations already made by means of the spectre
scope, that stars emerge from the hellum
stage, passing through the various periods OF
blue, yellow red, and ruby color, till they finally
fade from view Such is doubtless the fate
that must in the course of time overtake the
glowing orbs that people the star depths.
The flowers of the sky will surely fade as the
full blown eventually droops and dies.
| Thus, millions of dark stars, the faded flowers
of the sky, are scattered throughout the celes-
tial garden like dead leaves laid low by wintry
blasts. Like them. these stars have run their
course, being successfully Sirian blue stars,
- the forget-me-nots of the angels" yellow
sun flowers, rosy variable stars. and finally
glowing with the ruby hue hectic flush that
indicates ultimate decay.
Colored Double Stars
THE existence of double or binary stars
was discovered by Sir William Herschel
toward the close of the eighteenth century.
and the most remarkable feature about these
stars is that they frequently of diff rent
coors. The two colors are usually compile
mentary; that IS, colors that when mixed in
proper proportions produce white. Thus,
one will be green and the other red,
orange and the other blue, or one violet and
the other yellow.
Similarly in the triple stars we have may
blue a red. and yellow, or green an orange,
and violet. In quadruple star we may
have blue, green orange, and red, and SO on,
in endless combinations. If there be any
planets in attendance upon these multiple
suns, as in all probability there are, the celes-
tial phenomena at those planets will be of the
most unusual kind