The Cosmic Blinker

Though the military considerations of a station in space have been emphasized by scientists, probably with the hope that such an angle might facilitate funds for such a project, one of the greatest benefits to accrue from successful establishment of a space station or an ultimate base on the moon would be the advantages of establishing an astronomical observatory. The effectiveness of our present telescopes would be increased manyfold, once outside the deep ocean of the earth's atmosphere. The new clarity of observation would unveil many of the universe's greatest mysteries--but, just as surely, add still greater mysteries to take their place. Binder tells, with considerable imagination, the story of a variable star that didn't conform. (Originally published in SCIENCE FICTION PLUS, 1953.)