Doable Stars. 299 



small. I should liave thought it not lower than 6. It will 

 serve also as a pointer to the following : — 



152. X 2725. In the same field, if the power is low, with 

 7 DeVphini, lying s, a little p, we find a very pretty little pair, 

 not mentioned by Sm., but designated as above, and described 

 as 4"-237. 358°-05. 7*3 and 8 of 2 ; s, or about 8 and 8£ of 

 Sm/s scale. White and ash-coloured. The Russian astro- 

 nomer thought a slow motion in angle probable. 



The other bright stars offer nothing very remarkable, but 

 between /3 and £, both yellow, the former the deeper, we should 

 look for a remarkable little triangle of 8-mag. stars, whose 

 very aspect seems to bespeak their mutual connection. It 

 would be a curious though troublesome task to ascertain from 

 the calculus of probabilities, how many chances there are 

 against a mere perspective equality of brightness in three 

 objects within so small a compass. If we are studying colours, 

 we may sweep for two stars, one about l-§-° n of 7, a little jp, 

 7 mag., pale red ; another l-§-° p the last, a very few minutes n, 

 fine orange. 



We next find readily, by means of e, which ifc closely 

 precedes — 



153. 178 P. XX. JDelphini (marked simply 178 in dia- 

 gram). 14"-3. 256°-l. 7i and 8. Both white. To these, 

 Sm. adds a 16-mag. companion, 20", 125°, visible only by 

 evanescent glimpses under clock-work with his 5 t 9 q- inch object- 

 glass ; and Dawes a 9-mag., discovered by him as an elonga- 

 tion of 8, 1840-82, and confirmed by Sm., 1842-58, when he 

 estimated the distance at 0""7. As it had been unperceived by 

 2t in four measurements, our great astronomer was disposed 

 to assume the binary character of the pair. I have found it a 

 very difficult object with 5i inches, but I think it appears 

 elongated ; at least it does not look exactly like its companion. 



We proceed now to the little asterism Equuleus, an un- 

 accountably shaped figure, said to be due to Hipparchus. What 

 may have induced the venerable astronomer to insert the head 

 and neck only of an animal is now past inquiry. There is no 

 brilliant star here, a, the lucida, attaining only 4 mag. Three 

 pans, however, will well reward our search. We begin with the 

 easiest to find, which is visible on any clear night to the naked 

 eye as a minute but solitary and easily recognized star. 



154. eEquulei. ll"-2. 78°-l. 5* and 7±-. Pale yellow and 

 bluish lilac. The pair is pretty, but it is converted into a 

 most interesting group by the " duplicity " of A, discovered 

 by X as an object of extreme difficulty, his measures giving 

 0"-35 and 294°-04 (1835-67). Only three years after, Sm. found 

 it more open, 0"-5 and 290° (1838-83). Secchi's mean is 

 0"-819, 287°-44 (1855-876). Knott at the present time 



