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The Astrology of Space - Matrix Software

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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Astrology</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Space</strong><br />

<strong>The</strong> Two Types <strong>of</strong> Intrinsic Variables:<br />

Extrinsic Variables<br />

Extrinsic are not “true” variable stars. <strong>The</strong>ir variations<br />

are not caused by something happening within them,<br />

but by the intervention <strong>of</strong> some external action or by<br />

changes in aspect, as when an ellipsoidal star<br />

revolves or rotates. <strong>The</strong> eclipsing variables are<br />

extrinsics that change brightness when two stars<br />

eclipse one another, total or partially, and sometimes<br />

stars appear to have variance due to obscuring matter<br />

drifting in front <strong>of</strong> them. <strong>The</strong>se <strong>of</strong>ten show physical<br />

interaction with interstellar matter.<br />

Intrinsic Variables<br />

<strong>The</strong>se are the true variable stars, for something within<br />

them is happening to cause the variation in their<br />

appearance. <strong>The</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> this article will describe some<br />

<strong>of</strong> the basic attributes <strong>of</strong> the various major types <strong>of</strong><br />

intrinsic variable stars. Some intrinsic variables have<br />

a more or less regular rhythm or period and are<br />

termed Periodic Variables, while others are only<br />

periodic in a rough fashion and ire termed Semiregular<br />

or Cyclic Variables.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se semi-regular variables may be seen to<br />

dissolve, in a step-by-step manner, into those stars<br />

whose variations show no obvious pattern, the<br />

Irregular Variables. <strong>The</strong> most spectacular <strong>of</strong> all the<br />

variables are the Novae, Supernovae, and other<br />

Cataclysmic or Exploding Variables.<br />

Periodic Variables<br />

<strong>The</strong> periodic variables are giant and super-giant stars<br />

with periodic variations ranging from an hour or so to<br />

three years in length. In spectral class, the stars<br />

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