Triple stars occur with comparative frequency throughout the heavens. In
Monoceros there is a fine triple star, discovered by Herschel, which he
describes as 'one of the most beautiful sights in the heavens.' The
stars Xi and Beta Scorpii form triple systems in which the components
are differently arranged. In Xi the primary and secondary consist of two
revolving stars which control the movements of a distant attendant; in
Beta the primary and secondary stars are in mutual revolution, whilst
round the former there circles a very close minute companion. There are
doubtless many binary stars which, if examined with adequate telescopic
power, would resolve themselves into triple and multiple systems, but
the profound distances of those objects render the detection of their
components a most difficult task.