BETA CETI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 10 March 1923, Page II

BETA CETI.

(By *..P.G.)

The Press Association's message, m Tuesday's Star, originating from Mr J. T. Ward, director of the Wanganui Observatory, to the effect that probably a mistake has been made between Beta Ceti (Diphda) and Omieron .Ceti (Mira) has the endorsement of ideal astronomers.'. The latter star, which, of course, is situated in the same constellation, is a well-known "variable" with a period of 329 days. It reached its maximum on March i, so that there is little doubt that this was the star of Abbott's observations. If the cabled increase of Beta Ceti had beeiij accurate, instead of being, as it is now, a (2nd) mag. star, it would be a (—1.5) mag, star, and rivalling* in brilliance Sirius (—1.58) mag., the brightest star in the heavens (apart from the planets) and ■■which.is such'an.-unmistakable object at the present time.. One is.not ready, to doubt any message froni such an-eminent astronomer as Elainmarion, of Paris, who, it is reported, has examined the records; but when we consider that Beta Ceti has a declination of.lSdeg. 24min. south, and that Omieron CeM has a declination of 3<leg. Wmin. south, we can understand that the latter,.star would be a more conspicuous object for.continued observation from tlie Paris Observatory, which Is, roughly; 49deg. north latitude. AYe should further consider that even at Athens Observatory, 38deg." north latitude, Beta Ceti would not reach an altitude as high as Aldebaran, that large yellow star to the left of and in a line with the three stars forming Orion's Belt (or the bottom of the pot); whilst Omieron Ceti, from the same observatory, would reach an altitude a little Higher than. Betelgeuze (Orion's Head), that- large red star immediately under the three stars forming Orion's Belt. We have little-doubt, then, that a mistake lias been made, because further than such n. conspicuous southern star as Beta Ceti having evaded the notice of-the keenest local observers, it.seems almost impossible to have escaped detection by one of the recognised greatest astronomers in.the Southern Hemisphere, Mr J. T. Ward, of Wanganui.