The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-24
THE DLNHbzZNC NEW STAR IN THE CON-.
STELLA77ON OF AQUILA.
Astronomical Theories the Origin Blazing Visitor,
Vault.

More than two months ago what is
popularity called the new star in
Aquila suddenly attracted the atten-
ton Of every one who notes celestial
phenomena, and all the great tele-
scopes in the northern hemisphere
have nightly been directed toward II
ever since. The new celestial visitor
began to grow bright June 7 last, and
two days later reached its maximum
Of brilliancy. when 1t was the brightest
star In the heavens, outshining the
giant sun Vega, Sirius and all the
stellar host visible in our hemisphere.
The star, as a matter of fact. was
only new to the ordinary observer, as
It probably had been seen at least
thirty years before. in 1888, in the
Photographic map Of that region Of
the sky as taken by camera at the
Harvard Observatory. when it ap-
peared as Of the eleventh magnitude.
On the seventh Of June last 1t
reached the sixth magnitude. in other
words was then visible to the naked
eye. the lowest magnitude reached by
the unassisted eye. though by the aid
Of powerful lenses astronomers can
distinguish stars down to the eish-
teenth magnitude. That in two days
1t should have increased in brightness
until 1t eclipsed in brilliance all the
other stars in the sky seems an as
tonishing fact. but is in line with
previous observations of new or tenn
uta 90
out In extraordinary splendor and then
gradually dimmed and faded away
until the astronomers could no longer
discern them. Owing probably to its
appearance in war time many men
inclined to regard the new star as a
portent, some Of the destruction of the
world, while others. noting that 1t APP
peared in the constellation Of AQuila.
or the Eagle. were inclined to regard
1t is an omen of victory for the United
States. One Of the writer's OF the
former class remarked that only three
times in history has brighter APP
partition been recorded" and added
the wonder grows that our young
twentieth century should claim two
Of these leading events" and he con-
cluded with the query, Can we avoid
even at this date a superstitious thrill
at the potent Of two first magnitude
apparitions within twenty years?"
But while some people were dis
turbed by this remarkable celestial
phenomenon and have talked Of and
limited at its possible relation to the
end Of the world, perhaps by collision
with this seemingly wandering star,
r. L. Waterfield. F. r. A. s.. in letter
to the London Times on the new star
says that on the supposition that 1t
is as close to US as the nearest star
q. O., four and a half light years) and
to be moving at the rate Of 400 miles
q second. It could not reach US In
1900 years. which certainly gives all
Of us now living ample time to ar
range our affairs before the collision.
even should It ever take place.
Nevertheless astronomers are still
greatly interested in the new star or
sun, as was shown this week at the
twenty-second meeting OF the Ameri-
can Astronomical Society at the Har-
ward Observatory, where papers were
read on the latest stellar wonder by
no less than six Of the fifty astrono-
mers present.
AS a matter of fact the fast dimming
new star is following the usual course
of such stars as they have appeared in
the past from the time Of Hipparchus