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VI. On the periodical changes of brightness of two fixed stars

1797; Royal Society; Volume: 87; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1098/rstl.1797.0007

2053-9223

Edward Pigott, Henry Englefield,

Historical and Architectural Studies

Although those far distant suns, the fixed stars, have baffled all investigation with regard to our knowledge of their distance, magnitudes, and attractions; we have, nevertheless, by determining their periodical changes of light, established a strong affinity between them and our sun; and among such an inconceivable number, we may expect to find some with periods of rotation much longer and shorter than those we are already acquainted with, and with changes perhaps even sufficiently rapid to afford a ready means for determining accurately differences of terrestrial longitudes. This would be a most satisfactory, useful, and profitable discovery, and may be the lot of those who have but a slight knowledge of astronomy, provided that with great exactness, and a good memory, a constant look out be given. The discoveries which , at present I have the honour of laying before the Society, are the periodical changes of brightness of two stars, one in Sobieskiʼs Shield , the other in the Northern Crown . The constellation of Sobieskiʼs Shield consists of a very few stars, and was formed by Hevelius, in honour of a king of Poland ; the variable star that now appears in it was, doubtless, not noticed by him, as he has set down stars near it, which are by times much less conspicuous. It has nearly the same right ascension as the star l , and is about one degree more south: this, for the present, suffices to point out its place; for as I wish to proceed immediately to the results, I shall, for greater perspicuity, collect at the end of this account, a more exact determination of its right ascension and declination, as also a plan of the stars situated near it.