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XXI. AJlronomical Obfervations on the periodical Star in 
Collo Ceti !a> . By Mr. William Herfchel, of Bath ; 
communicated by Dr. Watfon, Jun. of Bath, F. R. S. 
HIS remarkable ftar, we are told “ was firft ob- 
“ ferved by david fabricius, the 13th of Au- 
(c guft, 1596, who called it the ftella mira, or wonder- 
“ ful ftar; which has been fince found to appear and 
“ difappear, periodically, feven times in fix years, conti- 
“ nuing in the greateft luftre for fifteen days together, 
“ and is never quite extinguilhed.” 
My own obfervations on this wonderful ftar are but 
few, yet fufficiently verify the furprizing appearances 
that have been afcribed to it. I fhall tranfcribe them 
from my aftronomical journal in the order they were 
made. 
October 20, 1777 , 1 looked out for the periodical ftar 
in collo ceti, but it was not vifible. If its period is 3 1 2 
(a) bayer’s chara£ter for this ftar is o. 
(b) See ferguson’s Aftronomy. §366, 
Read May 1 1 , 1780. 
2 
days 
