TEMPORARY STARS. 211 



a considerable period before he conceived the idea of forming 

 a regular catalogue. The words of Pliny, "suo aevo genita,'' 

 apply to the whole term of his life. After the appearance 

 of Tycho Brahe's star in 1572, it was much disputed whether 

 the star of Hipparchus ought to be classed among new stars, or 

 comets without tails. Tycho Brahe himself was of the former 

 opinion (Progymn., pp. 319-325). The words "ejusquemotu 

 addubitationem adductus," may undoubtedly lead to the 

 supposition of a faint, or altogether tail-less comet; but 

 Pliny's rhetorical style admitted of such vagueness of ex- 

 pression. 



(6) A Chinese observation. It appeared in December, A.D. 

 123, between a. Herculis and a Ophiuchi. Ed. Biot, from 

 Ma-tuan-lin. (It is also asserted that a new star appeared in 

 the reign of Hadrian, about A.D. 130.) 



(c) A singular and very large star. This also is taken 

 from Ma-tuan-lin, as well as the three following ones. 



It appeared on the 10th of December, 173, between a. 

 and /3 Centauri, and at the end of eight months disappeared, 

 after exhibiting the five colours one after another. " Succes- 

 sivement " is the term employed by Ed. Biot in his trans- 

 lation. Such an expression would almost tend to suggest a 

 series of colours similar to those in the above described 

 star of Tycho Brahe ; but Sir John Herschel more correctly 

 takes it to mean a coloured scintillation (Outlines, p. 563), and 

 Arago interprets in the same way a nearly similar expression 

 employed by Kepler when speaking of the new star (1604) in 

 Ophiuchus. (Annuaire pour 1842, p. 347.) 



(d) This star was seen from March to August, 369. 



(e) Between A and <p Sagittarii. In the Chinese Record 

 it is expressly observed, ' where the star remained (. e. 

 without movement) from April to July, 386." 



(/) A new star, close to a, Aquilae. In the year 389, 

 in the reign of the Emperor Honorius, it shone forth with 

 the brilliancy of Venus, according to the statement of Cus- 

 pinianus, who had himself seen it. It totally disappeared in 

 about three weeks. 4 



4 Other accounts place the appearance in the year 38$ 

 or 398. Jacques Cassini, EUmens d' Astronomic, 1740 (EtoiU 

 nouvelles], p. 59. 



p 2 



