MIRA THE MARVELLOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2683, 16 August 1905, Page 89

MIRA THE MARVELLOUS.

(By a Banker ) When we gazo upwards towards the canopied, star-spangled vau.lt of the midnight sky we fail to note that, with the exception of a veiy few, such as mauy-hued Sinus or bloodred Aldebaran, whose brilliant colouring is 30 visible to the naked eye, very many of the st<&.rs differ in colour. In the constellation ot the Southern Cl-ods there are glittering &ujis which, when viewed through a poweriul telescope, are seen to be, some a brilliant emerald, bouie a lustrous azme, some a glowing scarlet. In. 'he constellation of the Lion is a mighty double sun, one a transplendent sulphur hue, its companion a deep blazing green; in the Serpent is another double star, both being tinted a flashing sapphire; white m Andromeda is a great isun of a vivid orange hue, near it (apparently) two smaller stars of a light sea green. And scattered throughout the illimitable abysm of mighty space are innumerable other splendent-coloured, suns glowing m the richest of prismatic hues. What a magnificent spectacle woxild be presented if we could only invent instruments of sufficient power tj magnify these burning worlds to such a size that we could witness the fiery conflagration ever raging ; wild tornadoes of vividly-coloured flames; hurricanes and cyclones of blazing incandescent gases, and cataracts and swirling whirlpools of scarlet or green or azure fires raging in a very orgasm ot tutbulent vehemence. But not in variety of colour only are many of the stars so remarkable. For some appear at periodical intervals to disappear altogether, to be blotted out from view, their glittering fires being completely extingujshed for a specified time, again after a- regular interval to blaze forth as before. Amongst the most noticeable of these is the star Alzol in Perseus. For two days 13J hours this extraordinary luminary shmes brilliantly as a stax of the second magnitude, or about the same degree of brilliancy as the Polar Star. It then suddenly decreases, and in three and a-half hours descends to a minute point of light, again attaining its maximum in a similar period. And all this is repeated throughout the ages, the total changes being effected in two days, 21 hours, 49 minutes. But more more wonderful still is the star Mira, well named the marvellous. For 15 days it is a bright star of the second magnitude; then for three months it gradually decreases until it disappears altogether from view, remaining invisible for five months, then re-appearing, txiitil in three months it has again attained its maximum brilliancy; this cycle of changes having been repeated with the same regularity, doubtless, throughout the eons. And ye-t all these wondrous works were created by Him who came to this earth of ours to redeem us by bearing the chastisement which; is our due. And if we will, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, plead that atonement with our Heavenly Father, the .glories of Heaven will be ours, and we shall doubtless visit on angel wing all these strange marvels of creation.