THE NEW SUN AND ITS DISAPPEARANCE. 101 



a definite numerical ratio to each other, while irregular and unsteady figures 

 are caused by notes which have no such ratios. The pattern made on the 

 screen by a discord is very bewildering to the eye. 



"Professor Barrett, in concluding, said: 'After seeing how musical 

 notes may be (^translated into moving lines of light, the words put hy our 

 poet into the mouth of Lorenzo have additional interest, 



"'There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st 

 But in his motion like an angel sings.' " 



Major Festing conveyed the thanks of the audience to Professor Bar- 

 rett. — London Times. 



ASTRONOMY. 



THE NEV/ SUN AND ITS DISAPPEARANCE. 



The phenomenon of the appearance of a new star in the heavens is 

 rare enough to arouse the greatest interest among astronomers and other 

 scientific persons. It is not merely an occurrence appalling in its mystery 

 and immensity; but even in the minds of those accustomed to contemplate 

 the majesty of other worlds, it tends to arouse questions of the gravest im- 

 portance relative to the physical and chemical constitutions of the stars, 

 and to the comparison of our own sun with other far distant ones. 



On November 24th last, M. Schmidt, Director of the Observatory at 

 Athens, Greece, at 5h. 41m. in the evening, saw a star of the third magni- 

 tude in the constellation Cygnus. No record of the existence of any such 

 star was in existence. No such star was visible on November 20th; but 

 whether it appeared on one of the intervening days between that date and 

 the 24th, M. Schmidt cannot say, as cloudy weather had then prevailed in 

 Athens. The news was at once telegraphed throughout the world, and the 

 astronomers watched the new star gradually wane until, on December 8th, 

 it was scarcely of the sixth magnitude. 



By comparing the observations of the discoverer, M. Schmidt, with 

 those of M. Prosper Henry, we find two important facts: First, that within 

 eight days the star diminished from the third to the fifth magnitude; and, 

 secondly, that the color changed from a marked yellow to a bluish green. 

 On December 2d, spectroscopic observations at different observatories were 

 made; and the general conclusion was that the spectrum, being formed in 

 large part of brilliant lines, was that of an incandescent vapor or gas. On 

 December 4th, M. Cornu obtained a very satisfactory observation, which 

 enabled him to identify three lines as the lines C, F and 434 of hydrogen. 



