19/22 But as [chi] descends to the 11th magnitude at its minimum the observer must not always expect to find it very easily. It has been known to be invisible at the epoch when it should have been most conspicuous. The period of this variable is 406 days. So far as observation has yet extended, it would seem to be the nearest to us of all stars visible in the northern hemisphere. It is a fine double, the components nearly equal (5-1/2 and 6), both yellow, and nearly 19" apart. |