476 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ponents not exceeding 0*8", position angle 64. 2 958 is a pretty 

 double, both stars being of the sixth magnitude, distance 5", p. 

 257. Still finer is 2 1009, a double, whose stars are both a little 

 above the seventh magnitude and nearly equal, distance 3", p. 

 156. A low power suffices to show the three stars in 19, their 

 magnitudes being six and a half, seven and a half, and eight, dis- 

 tances 15", p. 312, and 215", p. 358. Webb describes the two 

 smaller stars as plum-colored. Plum-colored suns ? 



At the opposite end of the constellation are two fine doubles, 

 2 1333, magnitudes six and a half and seven, distance 1*4", p. 39 ; 

 and 38, magnitudes four and seven, distance 2'9", p. 235. 



Under the guidance of map No. 6 we turn to Leo, which con- 

 tains one of the leading gems among the double stars, y, whose 

 components, of third and fourth magnitudes, are respectively 

 yellow and green, the green star, according to some observers, 

 having a peculiar tinge of red. Their distance apart is 3"5", p. 

 114, and they are undoubtedly in revolution about a common 

 center, the probable period being about four hundred years. The 

 three-inch glass should separate them easily when the air is 

 steady, and a pleasing sight they are. 



The star i is a closer double, and also very pretty, magnitudes 

 four and eight, colors lemon and light blue, distance 27", p. 65 

 Other doubles are t, magnitudes five and seven, distance 95", p 

 170; 88, magnitudes seven and nine, distance 15", p. 320; 90 

 triple, magnitudes six, seven and a half, and ten, distance 3"5", p 

 209, and 59", p. 234 ; 54, magnitudes four and a half and seven 

 distance 6'2", p. 102 ; and 49, magnitudes six and nine, distance 

 2-4", p. 158. 



Leo contains a remarkable variable star, R, deep red in color, 

 and varying in a space of a hundred and forty-four days from 

 the fifth to the tenth magnitude. It has also several nebulae, of 

 which only one needs special mention, No. 1861. This is spindle- 

 shaped, and large telescopes show that it consists of three nebulae. 

 The observer with ordinary instruments finds little to see and 

 little to interest him in these small, faint nebulae. 



We may just glance at two double stars in the small constella- 

 tion of Sextans, situated under Leo. These are : 9, magnitudes 

 seven and eight, distance 53", p. 292 ; and 35, magnitudes six and 

 seven, distance 6'9", p. 240. 



Coma Berenices (map No. 6) contains several interesting ob- 

 jects. Let us begin with the star 2, a double, of magnitudes six 

 and seven and a half, distance 3'6", p. 240. The color of the 

 smaller star is lilac. This hue, although not extremely uncom- 

 mon among double stars elsewhere, recurs again and again, with 

 singular persistence, in this little constellation. For instance, in 

 the very next star that we look at, 12, we find a double whose 



