Astronomical Register Vol 3 February 1865
HIND’S CRIMSON STAR IN LEPUS
It will be in the recollection of many of your readers that
some 15 years ago, Mr Hind announced that he had discovered in the
constellation of Lepus “ a highly coloured crimson or even scarlet star”, which
he further said was “by far the most deeply coloured object he had yet seen” (M
N RAS ,X 141.)
The only other observations of it which I am acquainted is
one by Scmidt, who stated, about ten years ago, that it was of the 7th
magnitude, and as he thought, rapidly gaining light but losing colour. This was
I think in 1855.
Beyond having received the appellation of R Leporis from its
being regarded as a decided variable, I do not think that much attention has
been paid to it.
Having long been desirous of viewing what seemed to be a
very curious and interesting object, I avail myself of the opportunity afforded
by a moderately good night and an 8.5-inch refractor belonging to a relative,
and last evening saw the star in question. Its light was of s very intense
crimson colour, greatly surpassing in depth several of Sir J Herschel’s “Ruby”
stars called by him “intense” &c and also Piazzi’s garnet sidus in Cepheus.
The magnitude was determined by Dawes method of apertures was set down at 9.75.
From this it would seem that the star had recovered its original colour and
sunk to its original size in the ten years that have elapsed since 1855.
Unfortunately, the southerly declination of the star greatly
interferes with its continued observation in this country, but it is evidently
an object deserving of careful attention.
G F Chambers
Uckfield, Sussex
Jan 5th 1865
www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk
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