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ART. XT. — Reflections upon the nature of the Temporary Star of the year 1572. 

 An application of the Nebular Hypothesis. 



By Alexander "Wilcocks, M. D. 



Among the curious appearances which are recorded in the annals of astronomy, 

 none are more likely to awaken our deep meditation than the class of temporary 

 stars. 



The rarity of the phenomenon has left us but scanty observations upon which to 

 found theories, but the advance made by science since the appearance of the star we 

 are about to consider, enables us to supply from analogy some of its conditions which 

 observation has failed to furnish. 



To us, of this generation, the star of the year 1572 should be an object of especial 

 interest, for if one theory held concerning it, viz.: that of its periodical nature, 

 be the true one, persons who may witness its return have probably reached man- 

 hood. 



Fortunately, this apparition occurred when the day of astronomical truth had 

 dawned. Copernicus had lived, had published his book upon the revolutions of the 

 heavenly bodies, and had died. By the light which his labors shed upon the mind 

 of Tycho Brahe, he, the most eminent astronomer of his day, was enabled to deter- 

 mine all the facts that we have in relation to the star. 



Let us quote the narrative of this eye-witness : 



" On my return to the Danish Islands from my travels in Germany," says Tycho 

 Brahe,* " I resided for some time with my uncle Steno Bille, in the old and pleasantly 

 situated monastery of Herrizwadt; and here I made it a practice not to leave my 

 chemical laboratory until the evening. Raising my eyes, as usual, during one of my 

 walks, to the well-known vault of heaven, I observed, with indescribable astonish- 

 ment, near the zenith, in Cassiopeia, a radiant fixed star of a magnitude never before 

 seen. In my amazement I doubted the evidence of my senses. However, to convince 

 myself that it was no illusion, and to have the testimony of others, I summoned 

 my assistants from the laboratory, and enquired of them, and of all the country people 

 that passed by, if they also observed the star that had thus suddenly burst forth. I 



* Comos, vol. iii., p 152. 



