A visual method of estimating the brightness of a variable star, using two comparison stars. The interval between the comparisons is mentally divided into a small number of steps. Estimates such as A(2)V(3)B or C(4)V(1)D result, where the figures in parentheses represent the number of brightness steps between the variable, V, and pairs of comparison stars, A, B and C, D. The actual magnitude may be calculated from the known magnitude of the comparison stars.