Abstract
KEPLER'S NOVA OF 1604.—The vicinity of this object is now favourably situate for observation in the evenings, and it is well worth while to keep a close watch upon one or two small stars near the position deduced for Kepler's object by Prof. Schonfeld from the observations of David Fabricius, which he considered preferable to those of Kepler and his pupils, given in his celebrated work, “De Stella nova in pede Serpentarii,” more especially upon a star of the twelfth magnitude, or fainter, observed by Prof. Winnecke in 1875, which is close upon the place of a star of the tenth magnitude inserted on Chacornac's chart, but not afterwards found of this degree of brightness, and which is still more significant, almost exactly in ths position of Kepler's object assigned by the observations of Fabricius. The most convenient reference star in this neighbourhood is one meridionally observed by Argelander, No. 16872 of Oeltzen's Catalogue, a bright ninth magnitude, the position of which for the beginning of the present year is in R.A. 17h. 23m. 52.2s., N.P.D. 111° 23′22″; Schönfeld's place of Nova 1604 for the same epoch is in R.A. 17h. 23m. 26.9s., N.P.D. 111° 22′32″; Winnecke's star precedes Argelander's 33.2s., in 2′.7 less N.P.D. There is a somewhat brighter star preceding Argelander's 18.8s. with 1.6 greater N.P.D., which, after several years' observation, has not exhibited any sensible fluctuation of magnitude. Attention should be chiefly directed to Winnecke's object, and it would be desirable to know its present magnitude, which some reader of this column may have the opportunity of putting upon record; we would, however, suggest its frequent observation.
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Our Astronomical Column . Nature 22, 184 (1880). https://doi.org/10.1038/022184a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/022184a0