17/18 At the angle is the star [gamma] Virginis, a noted double. In 1756 the components were 6-1/2 seconds apart. They gradually approached till, in 1836, they could not be separated by the largest telescopes. Since then they have been separating, and they are now 4-1/2 seconds apart, situated as shown in Plate 3. They are nearly equal in magnitude (4), and both pale yellow. |