[SN 1572 (Tycho's SN)] And first, That in the Chair of Cassiopeia, was not seen by Cornelius Gemma on the Eighth of November 1572, who says, he that Night considered that Part of Heaven in a very serene Sky, and saw it not: but the next Night, Novemb. 9th. it appeared with a Splendour surpassing all the fixt Stars and scarce less bright than Venus. This was not seen by Tycho Brahe before the 11th of the same Month, but from thence He assures us that it gradually decreased and died away, so as in March 1574, after sixteen Months, to be no longer visible; and at this Day no Signs of it remain. The Place thereof in the Sphere of Fixt-Stars, by the accurate Observations of the same Tycho, was 0s 9deg 17' a 1ma * Arietis [prima stella Arietis, First Star of Aries, the Ascending Node], with 53deg 45' North Latitude.
[SN 1604 (Kepler's SN)] Such another Star was seen and observed by the Scholars of Kepler, to begin to appear on Sept. 30th. st. vet. anno 1604, which was not seen on the Day before: but it broke out at once with a Lustre surpassing that of Jupiter; and like the former it died away gradually, and in much about the same time disappear'd totally, there remaining no footsteps thereof in January 1606. This was near the Ecliptick, following the Right-Leg of Serpentarius [Ophiuchus]; and by the Observations of Kepler and others, was in 7s 20deg 00' a 1ma *. Arietis, with North Latitude 1deg 56'. These two seem to be of a distinct Species from the rest, and nothing like them has appear'd since.
[Omicron Ceti (Mira)] But between them, viz. in the Year 1596, we have the first Account of the wonderful star in Collo Ceti, seen by David Fabricius on the third of August, st. vet. as bright as a Star of the third Magnitude, which has been since found to appear and disappear periodically: its Period being precisely enough 7 Revolutions in Six Years, tho' it return not always with the same Lustre. Nor is it ever totally extinguish'd, but may all times be seen with a Six-Foot Tube. This was singular in its Kind, till that in Collo Cygni was discovered. It precedes the first Star of Aries 1 deg 40', with 15deg 57' South Latitude.
[P Cygni (Nova 1600 Cygni)] Another New Star was first observed by Will. Jansonius in the Year 1600, in Pectore or rather in eductione Colli Cygni, which exceeded not the third Magnitude. This having continued some Years, became at length so small as to be thought by some to disappear entirely: but in the Years 1657, 58, and 59, it again arose to the third Magnitude, tho'soon after it decay'd by degrees to the fifth or sixth Magnitude, and at this Day is to be seen as such in 9s 18deg 38' a 1ma * Arietis, with 55 deg 29' North Lat.
[Nova 1670 Vulpeculae] A fifth New Star was first seen and observed by Hevelius in the Year 1670, on July 15 st. vet. as a Star of the third Magnitude, but by the Beginning of October was scarce to be perceived by the naked Eye. In April following it was again as bright as before, or rather greater than of the third Magnitude, yet wholly disappeared about middle of August. The next Year, in March 1672, it was seen again, but not exceeding the sixth Magnitude: since when it has been no further visible, though we have frequently sought for its Return; its place is 9s 3deg 17' a 1ma * Arietis and has Lat. North 47deg 28'.
[Chi Cygni] The Sixth and last is that we described from the Acta Berolinensia, in No. 343 of these Transactions; discovered by Mr. G. Kirch in the Year 1686, and its Period determined to be of 404 1/2 Days: and though it rarely exceed the fifth Magnitude, yet it is very regular in its Returns, as we found in the year 1714. Since then we have watched, as the Absence of the Moon and the Clearness of Weather would permit, to catch the first beginning of its Appearance in a Six-Foot Tube, that bearing a very great Apperture discovers most minute Stars. And on June 15 last, it was first perceived like one of tge very least Telescopical Stars: but in the rest of that Month and July it gradually encreased, so as to become in August visible to the naked Eye: and so it continued all the Month of September. After that it again died away by degrees, and on the 8th of December at Night was scarce discernible by the Tube, and as near as could guessed, equal to what it was at its first Appearance on June 15th: so that this Year it has been seen in all near Six Months, which is but little less than half its Period: And the middle, and consequently the greatest Brightness, falls about the 10th of September. Those that please to seek for it may expect its first Appearance in July next, and find it in 9s 6deg 30' circiter a 1ma * Arietis, with Lat. Bor. [Latitudo Borealis, Northern Latitude] 52deg 40'.
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