The Circle of Knowledge

The Varied Color of the Stars

Many of the stars shine with colored light, as red, blue, green, or yellow.

These colors are exhibited in striking contrast in many of the double stars. Combinations of blue and yellow, or green and yellow, are not uncommon; while in fewer cases we find one star white and the other purple, or one white and the other red. In several instances each star has a rosy light.

The following are a few of the most interesting colored double stars:

Name of Star	Color of Larger One	Color of Smaller One
γ Andromedæ	Orange	Sea-Green.
α Piscium	Pale Green	Blue.
β Cygni	Yellow	Sapphire Blue.
η Cassiopeiæ	Yellow	Purple.
σ Cassiopeiæ	Greenish	Bright Blue.
ζ Coronæ	White	Light Purple.
ι Cancri	Orange	Blue.
α Herculis	Orange	Emerald Green.

Single stars of a fiery red or deep orange color are common enough. Of the first color may be mentioned Aldebaran, Antares and Betelgeuse. Arcturus is a good example of an orange star. Isolated stars of a deep blue or green color are very rarely found; among the conspicuous stars, β Libræ appears to be the only instance.

It is now a well-established fact that the stars change their color. Sirius was described as a fiery red star by the ancients, is now decided green color.

NAMES OF IMPORTANT STARS
INCLUDING THOSE OF FIRST MAGNITUDE

Individual Name	Meaning	Constellation in Which Found
Achernar	The End of The River	α Eridani.
Alcor	The Near One	80 Ursæ Majoris.
Alcyone	Daughter of Atlas and Pleione	η Tauri.
Aldebaran	The Follower	α Tauri.
Algenib	The Side	γ Pegasi.
Algol	The Demon Star	β Persei.
Alioth	The Tail (of the Sheep)	ε Ursæ Majoris.
Altair	The Soaring Eagle	α Aquilæ.
Antares	The Rival of Mars	α Scorpii.
Arcturus	The Watcher of the Bear	α Boötis.
Bellatrix	The Woman Warrior	γ Orionis.
Betelgeux	The Shoulder of the Giant	α Orionis.
Canopus	The Pilot of Menelaus	α Argûs.
Capella	The Goat	α Aurigæ.
Caph	The Hand	β Cassiopeiæ.
Castor	Son of Zeus and Leda	α Geminorum.
Cor Caroli	Charles’ Heart	α Canum Ven.
Deneb	The Tail	α Cygni.
Denebola	The Lion’s Tail	β Leonis.
Dubhe	The Bear	α Ursæ Majoris.
Fomalhaut	The Fish’s Mouth	α Piscis Australis.
Markab	The Saddle	α Pegasi.
Mira Ceti	The Wonderful Star of Cetus	ο Ceti.
Mizar	The Girdle	ζ Ursæ Majoris.
Polaris	The Pole Star	α Ursæ Minoris.
Pollux	Son of Zeus and Leda	β Geminorum.
Procyon	Before the Dog	α Canis Minoris.
Regulus	The Little King	α Leonis.
Rigel	The Foot	β Orionis.
Sirius	Chief	α Canis Majoris.
Spica	The Ear of Corn	α Virginis.
Vega	The Swooping Eagle	α Lyræ.