Abstract
THE STAR LALANDE 19,034.—It is somewhat singular that this star, which was observed by Lalande, on March 21, 1797, and then rated 41/2m. should have been so little observed since that year. It is not in Piazzi or Taylor, but it was observed three times by Argelander in the Bonn southern zones, viz., Z. 283, March 6, 1850, when it is called 6m.; in Z. 358, February 16, 1851, where we find it estimated 4m., and again in Z. 400, March 8, 1852, where it is 5m. These circumstances taken together appear to point to considerable variability. The star is in an isolated position on the borders of the constellations Hydra and Antlia. The mean of the Bonn observations gives for its position 1850.0, R.A. 9h. 34m. 26.40s., N.P.D. 112° 54′ 41″.0. Lalande's R.A. is one minute less than Argelander's—yet it looks right in the Histoire Celeste, Perhaps one of our meridional observers may find opportunity to revise its position and the star may be further recommended to attention on the score of probable fluctuation of light; though it should be remarked that there are other cases of discordant magnitudes in the Bonn southern zones for stars not yet entered on the list of variables, as in η Canis Majoris for instance, for which in three observations the magnitudes are 5, 3, and 2.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Our Astronomical Column . Nature 17, 306–307 (1878). https://doi.org/10.1038/017306a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/017306a0