There is another in Cepheus, which grows to its full light in
thirty-eight hours only. There is one in the Lyre taking ninety-one
hours. Some fancy that the dark appearance may be owing to huge spots
on the suns coming into view as the suns turn round. But there is still
another sort of star--the _Temporary_.
Do they come and have a look at us in their birth, and then disappear
never to return?
I will tell you the history of one. In 1572 an astronomer saw it
shining in the daytime. He could not find it in his star catalogue at
home. Day after day it grew brighter and brighter, till it blazed far
more than either Sirius or Jupiter, and could be plainly seen in the
noontide sun. It then grew dim gradually, and in two years went away
altogether, without returning since.
That is temporary, and no mistake. But still I guess they will find him
turning up some day and becoming a regular Periodical.
There is a wonderful star, Argus, in Argo. Two hundred years ago it was
of the fourth magnitude only. In 1834, Sir John Herschel, when at the
Cape of Good Hope, found it a second magnitude. The light was three
times stronger at the end of 1837. Next month it was brighter than any
star here but Sirius. It faded awhile, and then increased, till, in
1844, it was equal to Sirius itself.
Have they looked over the old catalogues of stars, made, as you told
me, two thousand years ago, just to see what ones have dropped out of
sight, father?
Yes, and several have disappeared which were on that list.”