Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-10-11
| From the Charleston Courier.
THE NEW COMET.

THE NEW COMET.
The expectation of Encke's comet
about this time, has led many to in
IDENTIFY that now visible in the con-
stellation Taurus with it, but such we
believe is not the case.
The late unfavourable state OF the
weather, and the presence Of the Moon,
have contributed to prevent ANY accu-
rate series Of observations being made,
bat enough has been determined to de-
velope tht most prominent circumstan-
ces attending it.
1t is without doubt the same which
was observed by the Marseilles astron-
omer on the goth July last, at that
time invisible, to the naked eye, and
consequently beyond the orbit OF Jupi-
ter.s
On the 18th September ii was dis
tinctly visible to the naked eye al
Charleston; from which circumstances
we would infer, that i, had then passed
within Jupiter's orbit. At both these
times of observation it was in Taurus,
having moved only from the neck to
the shoulder, crossing the eclip,lc in
about 90 or 81 deg Of longitude; there
fore it must have its ascending node
near that point. We also discover
from these data that the inclination Of
its orbit to the plane Of the ecliptic,
does not vary materially from 49 deg.
and that it is approaching the sun,'
moving retrograde or contrary to the
order of the signs. After its conjunc-
ton with the Earth and Sun which
will happen in few weeks it will be
seen to move off rapidly in S. w. di-
rection.
DR.. Bowdich observes in speaking
Of Encke's comet, that in 1919 it APP
peared tolerably bright, and nucleus
was several times observed, but no APP
pcarance ola tail. In 1905 it appear
ed as star Of the fourth magnitude
with nucleus and very faint tail D
deg. in length. In 1895 it was about
minutes in diameter, not we'll defined,
without any tail or nucleus.
These observations are given to show
the dissimilarity between the two; for
we all know that the new one, has tail
extending FIVE or six degrees, if no,
more. But this is not the only discor-
dance; Encke's moves direct, this re-
trogade: the mode of Encke's is S34
deg. IS min this about 60 deg.
- ]. e.
'"Newton concludes, that when they disap-
pear, they are much beyond the orbit of Ju-
piter."
The United States schooner Por-
poise, Lieut.. F. A. PARKER, has arriv-
ed at PASSPORT, from cruize through
he Straits Of Belle Isle, and along the
Coast OF Labrador as far as latitude
$50 90 north; touching at all the pla-
ces resorted to by our vessels employ
ed in that direction in the Fisheries {:
and we are gratiied to learn that no.
thing Of an unpleasant nature has oc-
CURED this season between our fisher
men and the English vessels on the
| Coast.
But small number Of our vessels,
we believe, have been employed this
season further north than Cape Charles,
and none Of them, on any part OF the
Coast of Labrador, have experienced
molestation. That part of the Coast
Of Newfoundland from the Ramean
Islands to Cape Ray is not much re-
sorted to by our fishermen, fish being
seldom found there at any season Of
the year in such abundance as to offer
a sufficient inducement to go there
From the middle of May, until about
the same period in June, the most pro-
ductive fishing is in the bays and har-
bors of Newfoundland, from Cape
Ray to the Quirpon Islands, after
which time the fish strike over to the
Labrador Coast; on this part of the
Coast the fishing is not good, and ne
yer attempted at any season, except in
the bays and harbors. In the har5ors,
on the Labrador Coast, where actual
settlements have been made by the
British, our fishermen pay to the pro-
prietors of the shores, generally, one
quintai OF fish, and sometimes TWO, for
the privilege of curing them.
AS the fishing season is now over,
except on our own Coast, a repetition
of none of the unpleasant occurrences
of the last year are apprehended.
National Journal.