In omicron^2 we come upon an interesting triple star, two of whose components at any rate we can easily see. The largest component is of the fourth magnitude. At a distance of 82", p. 105 deg., we find a tenth-magnitude companion. This companion is itself double, the magnitudes of its components being ten and eleven, distance 2.6", p. 98 deg.. Hall says of these stars that they "form a remarkable system." He has also observed a fourth star of the twelfth magnitude, distant 45" from the largest star, p. 85 deg.. This is apparently unconnected with the others, although it is only half as distant as the tenth-magnitude component is from the primary. Sigma 590 is interesting because of the similarity of its two components in size, both being of about the seventh magnitude, distance 10", p. 318 deg.. Finally, we turn to the nebula 826. This is planetary in form and inconspicuous, but Lassell has described it as presenting a most extraordinary appearance with his great reflector--a circular nebula lying upon another fainter and larger nebula of a similar shape, and having a star in its center. Yet it may possibly be an immensely distant star cluster instead of a nebula, since its spectrum does not appear to be gaseous. CHAPTER VII PISCES, ARIES, TAURUS, AND THE NORTHERN STARS "Now sing we stormy skies when Autumn weighs The year, and adds to nights and shortens days, And suns declining shine with feeble rays."--DRYDEN'S VIRGIL. [Illustration: MAP NO. 22.] The eastern end of Pisces, represented in map No. 22, includes most of the interesting telescopic objects that the constellation contains. We begin our exploration at the star numbered 55, a double that is very beautiful when viewed with the three-inch glass. The components are of magnitudes five and eight, distance 6.6", p. 192 deg.. The larger star is yellow and the smaller deep blue. The star 65, while lacking the peculiar charm of contrasted colors so finely displayed in 55, possesses an attraction in the equality of its components which are both of the sixth magnitude and milk-white. The distance is 4.5", p. 118 deg.. In 66 we find a swift binary whose components are at present far too close for any except the largest telescopes. The distance in 1894 was only 0.36", p. 329 deg.. The magnitudes are six and seven. In contrast with this excessively close double is psi, whose components are both of magnitude five and a half, distance 30", p. 160 deg.. Dropping down to 77 we come upon another very wide and pleasing double, magnitudes six and seven, distance 33", p. 82 deg., colors white and lilac or pale blue. Hardly less beautiful is zeta magnitudes five and six, distance 24", p. 64 deg.. Finest of all is alpha, which exhibits a remarkable color contrast, the larger star being greenish and the smaller blue. The magnitudes are four and five, distance 3", p. 320 deg.. This star is a binary, but the motion is slow. The variable R ranges between magnitudes seven and thirteen,