190 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



again. It was soon found that the star was identical with DM + 26°, 

 2765, observed at Bonn by Schonfeld, May 18, 1855, and March 31, 

 1856, and estimated as 9-5 m. on both occasions. When near its 

 maximum brightness, its light was examined by Dr. Huggins, with 

 the spectroscope, which showed the bright lines of hydrogen in addi- 

 tion to the ordinary stellar spectrum. Some observers remarked that, 

 when seen with the naked eye, it decidedly twinkled more than other 

 stars near it, which rendered a correct estimate of its brightness very 

 difficult. 



The increase in the light of the star must have taken place very 

 rapidly, as Schmidt of Athens stated that he was observing the 

 vicinity on the same evening at 9h hours, and that no star of even 

 5 m. could have escaped his notice. 



Dr. Gould gives the following magnitudes of the star as observed 

 by himself and S. C. Chandler {K.IS. 1620) :— 







Time. 







Magnitude 



866, 



—May 14, . 



.. IP .... 2-9 





,, 15, . 



. . 9 







. 3-5 





„ 19, . 



. . 9 







. 5-8 





„ 19, . 



. . 13 







. 5-9 





„ 20, . 



. . 91 







. 6-3 





„ 24, . . 



. . 9i . 







. 7-8 





„ 28, . 



. . 10 







. 8-9 





„ 31, . 



. . . 10 







. 8-9 





June 9, 11, 



16, 20, . 







. 9-0 





„ 23, . 









. 9-1 





July 2, . 









. 9-1 





„ 10, . 

 „ 31, . 









. 9-2 

 . 9-1 





Aug. 6, . 



. 







. . 9-1 



During the period 1866-1876, Schmidt has detected variations of 

 light, which seemed to exhibit a certain regularity. He deduces from 

 his observations a probable period of 94 days. This conclusion has 

 been confirmed by Schonfeld. The star appears, therefore, to be an 

 irregular variable, and not merely a " temporary " star. 



It seems worth remarking that in the same constellation — not far 

 from T — is another very irregular variable, E Coronse (No. 107). 



112. W ScoEPn. — Discovered to be variable by C. H. F. Peters, 

 from observations at Clinton, U. S. He found it invisible in his tele- 

 scope on the following dates :— 1873, June; 1879, May 21 ; 1880, 

 April 20, May 3, May 11 ("bei sehr klarem Himmel"), June 2 and 6 

 ("bei schoner Luft"); but easily visible on many occasions in 1876, 

 1877, 1878, 1879, and 1880. He deduces a period of about 405 days 

 (" Oder ein aliquoter Theil davon, i- or i"), with a maximum at the 

 end of August, 1880. 



