164 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



NOTES. 



1. T Cassiopeia. — Elements derived by Schonfeld from 3 maxima 

 and 3 minima, combined with earlier observations. The increase from 

 llinimum to Maximum lasts 246 days, and the decrease 190 days ; 

 both interrupted by minor fluctuations of light. The star is very red 

 (Schmidt says " ausgezeichnet roth"). An 8 m. star follows, accord- 

 ing to Schonfeld, 10' and O'-o to the north. 



2. E. Andeomeda. — Schonfeld thinks that the period, at the date 

 of earlier observations (1827, Oct. 14, by Bessel), was longer, probably 

 about 409 days. At the maximum the light does not fluctuate much 

 for a period of about 16 days; in 1850, this was even extended to 50 

 days, with perhaps a secondary minimum. 



3. S Cexi. — Schonfeld flnds the increase quicker than the decrease, 

 and calls the star reddish (rothlich). The variability was discovered 

 by comparisons with a star (ISTo. 5 of " Catalogue of Suspected Yaria- 

 bles") which was suspected of variation. Schonfeld observed a Maxi- 

 mum of S Ceti, 1874, Oct. 14, 7 m. ; period about 333 days (" Ast. 

 IS'ach.," 1^0. 2065). 



4. B Casstopela. — This wonderful star, which suddenly blazed out 

 in November, 1572, was, according to Smyth (" Cel. Cycle," u. p. 55), 

 first seen by Schuler at "Wittenburgh in August, 1572 (?). Tycho 

 Brahe, whose name is usually associated with the star, fia^st saw it 

 on 11th jS^ovember, 1572. It increased rapidly in brilliancy, until it 

 surpassed Jupiter and equalled Yenus in splendour, when it was 

 visible in the daytime. This state of things was not, however, of 

 long duration, as it gradually diminished, and in March, 1574, had 

 completely disappeared. Its curious changes are thus described : — 

 " As it decreased in size, so it varied in colour ; at first its light was 

 white and extremely bright ; it then became yellowish, afterwards of 

 a ruddy colour, and finished with a pale livid colour." The position 

 given is that deduced by Argelander from Tycho Brahe's observa- 

 tions, and the place is situated about 1 J° north of, and a little pre- 

 ceding the star k Cassiopeise. "Within V of arc of the position assigned 

 by Argelander, d' Arrest in 1865 observed a star of the 11th magni- 

 tude, which is of a reddish hue, and has, it is said, shown signs of 

 fluctuations in its light. This small star, assumed to be the Nova, 

 will be readily identified by means of a bright 9th magnitude, which 

 is ISTo. 22 of Argelander's Zone 60 ; it follows this 9 m. 29''6, and is 

 south of it 10' 4"'l. Hind and Plummer's observations seem to show 

 that the star is variable to the extent of nearly a magnitude. Sir 

 J. Herschel thought it probable that the star was identical with 

 ''temporary" stars which are said to have been seen in the same 



