Star

(stahr.) [ From A. S. steorra. ] (Ast.). The name given to all the discrete luminous bodies which lie beyond the outermost bounds of the solar system are called in astronomy stars. The nearest of these bodies is yet removed to a distance so enormous that the earth's orbital motion around the sun produces no obvious change in the star's position. Nor are any of these external orbs subject to motions great enough to cause them to shift their places in an obvious manner. Hence these orbs are called the fixed stars, to distinguish them from the planets whose positions on the sky vary obviously, both on account of the earth's and their own motions. According to Argelander the total number of observed stars visible to the naked eye in the northern hemisphere is 2,342. The southern hemisphere is richer by upwards of 1,000 stars. Perhaps the most complete list of visible stars is that included in the British A ociation Catalogue. There are in this catalogue 5,932 stars of magnitudes 1-6 inclusive; and of these about 2,400 fall within the northern hemisphere. When we pa beyond the limits of visibility, and consider the numbers of the telescopic stars, we find ourselves perplexed by the contradictory accounts given by different astronomers. Struve, from a careful study of Sir William Herschel's star-gauges, estimates the total number of stars within the range of Herschel's 20-feet reflector at upwards of 20 millions. But Chacornac estimates the stars of the first 13 magnitudes at 77,000,000. Of stars not exceeding the 9th magnitude, upwards of300,000 have already been catalogued. With regard to the distance of the S.,the only mode by which the interval which separates them from us can be calculated is by ascertaining their parallax (q. v.), for which the best instruments and the most careful observations are needed. It must be concluded that the S. are suns shining by their own light, for since they are destitute of measurable discs, the light they emit cannot be reflected. A uming the parallax of Sirius to have been correctly ascertained, it has been calculated that his intrinsic splendor is more than 224 times that of our sun. Itwas long believed that the appearance of double S., and even of three or more, which seem to form systems, was due to their being situated in the same line of view; and in some instances, this may be the case. But it is now ascertained beyond a doubt that there exist sidereal systems, composed of 2, 3, 4, and even 5 S., revolving round each other, or round a common centre. In addition to such motions it has been discovered that some S. have a proper motion, that is, they are carried bodily away from their places along unknown paths. This motion is small, but it has been distinctly made out. Thus 61 Cygni has moved 4m. 23 s. during the last50years. See CONSTELLATION, GALAXY, NEBULE, . in Texas, a S. co., b. on Mexico; area, 3,350 sq. m.; C. Rio Grande City. [s. 852]