The Milky Way 



we are faced by a fact which appears paradoxical 

 but which has to be accepted and worked into 

 the structure of our cosmogonic speculations. 

 If we consider a group of neighbouring stars, 

 apparently of like origin, it would seem natural 

 for the coolest to be also the smallest. This, 

 however, is not the case, and no simple relation 

 exists between the magnitude and the colouring 

 of the stars. Thus in the group Orionis 

 are comprised six stars. A, of fourth magnitude, 

 is white; B, of eighth magnitude, blue; C, of 

 seventh magnitude, wine red; D, of eighth 

 magnitude, dark red; E, of ninth magnitude, 

 white; and F, of eighth magnitude, pale 

 grey. 



It is, however, to the study of the variable 

 bright stars that we owe our most suggestive 

 discoveries; better than any other it leads us 

 to realise the intensity of the life which animates 

 the plains of the heavens. 



Sometimes stars, previously unknown, burst 

 into light ; these are the new or temporary stars, 

 so called because they seem born only to be 

 at once extinguished or to become barely 

 visible. The systematic study of these novce 



243 



