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Its story

It dwells in Perseus, the Greek mythic hero whose mantle covers much of the northern winter sky. Its white light, characteristic of A-class stars, set out around 183 years ago, when the daguerreotype pioneers were perfecting in Paris the first permanent photographs. It is a variable —a glow that wavers slightly across the months— reminding us that stars too breathe. Hotter and more luminous than the Sun, it traces with subtlety one of the white beads outlining the hero.