Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/590

* STAR. 504 STARCH. this he attributed to a proper motion of our sun with his phiiiets in the ilirection of the former point. The apparent motion thus caused is com- plicated with the real independent motions of individual stars. The point toward which the motion is directed, which is called the 'solar apex,' was fixed by Herschel in the constellation Hercules; and the result of subsequent and inde- pendent researches gives a nearlj' coincident point. The velocity has been calculated at about 11 miles per second, a figure still very uncertain. Coming now from a consideration of stellar motions and velocities to their physical charac- teristics, we must again have recourse to infor- mation derived from a study of star spectra. Fraunhofer was the first to study them, and his researches have been followed by Rutherford, Huggins, Secchi, Vogel, Pickering, and others. It has thus been possible to identify in the stars many of the terrestrial chemical elements. Many stars exhibit well-marked periodic alterations of magnitude, and are hence called variable stars. A considerable number have been observed, of which perhaps the most remarkable are Mira (the wonderful) in Cetus, and Algol in Perseus. The first attains its greatest lustre every 334 days, and sometimes appears for 14 days as a star of the second magnitude ; it then decreases for two or three months, till it becomes of the sixth and even tenth magnitude, so as to be for half a year in- visible to the naked eye. After this it begins to increase, but more rapidly than it decreased. It is visible to the naked eye for three or four months of its period. Of all the variable stars yet observed Algol has the shortest period, being 2 days 20 hours 48 minutes 55.4 seconds. It appears for about 60 hours a star of the second magnitude, ' then decreases for four hours, and appears for a quarter of an hour of the fourth magnitude, after which it increases again for four hours. Various explanations have been ofTered of these mysterious appearances : that generally accepted postulates a large dark body revolving about the luminous one, so as to in- tercept more or less of its light in different positions and making of Algol-type variables simple eclipse phenomena. Allied to the variable stars are the new or temporary stars that appear suddenly in great splendor, and then disappear without leaving a trace. Fovirteen instances are on record. It is not improbable that these also may be periodic. STAR SYSTEM. Star Systems. From the appearances con- nected with the Milky Way or Galaxy (q.v. ), Sir W. Herschel came to the conclusion that the stars forming our firmament do not extend in- definitely into space, but are limited in all direc- tions, the mass having a definite shape. He conceived the shape to he something like that of a huge millstone, having one side cleft, and the two luminfE set apart at a small angle. Let the diagram represent a vertical section of such a broad flat stratum, suppose the solar system situ- ated as at S to a spectator looking on either side, in the direction of the thickness, as SB, the stars would appear comparatively sparse, but all round in the direction of the breadth (as SA) there would apjiear a dense ring, which would separate into two branches (SE. SD) in the direction of the cleft side. This svipposition accounts for the appearance of the Milky Way, and subsequent observations have tended to con- firm the conjecture. Consult: Young. General Astronomy (Boston, 1900) ; Clerke, tiystem of Stars (London, 1890) ; id.. History of Astronomy (ib., 1893) : Chambers, Handbook of Astronomy, vol. iii. (Oxford, 1890) ; Newcomb, The Stars (New York, 1901) ; on the constellations, consult Walentiner, Sternbilder (Breslau, 1901). STAR. A frequent charge in heraldry (q.v.). See EsTOiLE. STAR AND GARTER. A former London Tavern on Pall JMall, the meeting place of the Literary Club. STAR ANISE. See Illicium. STAR APPLE (ChriisoiihyUiim Cainifo). A West Indian tree about 20 in' 30 feet high, intro- duced in other warm countries, beyond which it is not hardy. It is named from the star-like cross-section of its large white or rose-colored, green, and yellow fruits, with an agreeably flavored soft, sweet jjulp. The tree is very beau- tiful in foliage. STARAYA LADOGA, sta'ra-yS la'd6-ga. A small village in the Government of Saint Peters- burg, Russia, on the Volkzhov, a few miles south of Lake Ladoga. It is one of the oldest Russian settlements and has considerable historic interest. STARAYA RUSSA, rns'sa. An ancient town and noted health resort in the Government of Novgorod. Russia. ISl miles south-southeast of Saint Petersburg (Map:Russia, D 3). It is well built, and has a number of fine parks. The saline springs are used both for drinking and bathing. Population, in 1897, 15,234. STARBOARD. A naval term to denote the right side of a vessel to an observer looking forward. See Helm. STARCH (assibilated form of stark, stiiT. strong, AS. sfeare, OHG. stare, Ger. stark, strong, stifT, Goth, ga-staiirknan, to dry up; con- nected with Lith, stregti, to become rigid, Pers. svturfi, strong). A form of carbohydrate (see Carbohydrates), occurring as stored food in many plants. Its composition corresponds to the empirical formula C„H„Or„ but its molecular for- mula, and. of course, its constitution, arc as yet unknown. The number of atoms in its molecule is probably very large. Starch is formed as a condensation product from siigar by the action of certain specialized poftions of the protoplasm of plant cells. The typical starch-formers are leucoplasts (q.v.), which occur in all cells where starch is permanently stored. But the chloro- plasts of the leaves may form starch when the green cells become overloaded with sugar. Thus