Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-04-26

Remarks 90 Cossefs.
~ DsdRry Leassts. u .MsrrsEaA
| Prom shs N. n. P.srsos
Considerable has been said. and
something written, Of late, respecting
. comet, which the papers tell us
will approach within 10000 miles Of
the earth, about the goth Of June next,
according 10 the prediction Of certain
German astronomers. Before giving
IN opinion 40 20 the probability Of
such IN event. ] shall 6rst mention
some Of the whins and absurd notions
which have been entertained concern.
ing comets, end also some Of the laws
and principles pertaining to them.
During the ages Of barbarism and
ssperstitiou, comets were regarded 10
the harbibgers Of some awful calamity
In the natural or political world. In
the year 1865, . comet appeared which
was locked upon in Europc. with nor.
ROC, except BY astronomers, and the
people were % terrified at the success
OF the Turkish arms at that time, and
thinking the comet IVES the cause Of
il. that pope Caliixtus ordered gene
raj prayer on the occasion.
So late as the beginning Of the 18th
century. Mr.. Whitson, the friend and
companion Of Newton, supposed com
cts 10 be the abodes Of the damned,
who, by being alternately wheeled by
the comet frnm the chilling regions Of
cold and darkness in the remotest Ii.
mits Of the system, and then waited
into the very vicinity Of the sun, were
punished by the extremes Of perishing
cold, aud devouring fire.
Much speculation and anxiety were
produced both in Europe aud A america,
by the comet which appeared in Sept.
1911. Some ignorant people though,
it was intended 10 produce the day OF
Judgment, others, thu, IL would strike
against the earth, and instantly ami
hilate IL, or approach so near ~ Ia
burn il up: others were SO frightened
as to omit going 20 market; many made
their will, and some committed suicide.
All this was borrowing trouble need
tessly. for the comet passed of quietly
and killed nobody, except those il
scared 10 death.
Comets, like other planets, are re-
tanned in their orbits by the power Of
gravity, and carried round the sun by
their centrifugal forces, and when
nearest the sun, ate heated 10 . great
degree. IL 10 stated shat Sir Isaac
Newton found the heat OF the great
comet which appeared in 1886, when
nearest the sun, 20 be 1000 times grea-
ter than red hot iron, which degree Of
heat he computed as follows: The
heat of the comet at that time was Ia
900 times greater than the heat Of the
summer sun. Boiling water is about
three times greater than the heat which
dry Garth acquires from the summer
sun; and the heat Of ied.hot iron 10
between three aud four times greater
than the heat Of boiling water; there
fore the dry earth at the comet, when
IN its petroleum, was about 1000 times
hotter than red hot iron.
i II 10 very singular that though the
attraction Of the other planets greatly
disturbs the comets In their motions,
yet the comets do not seem 20 disturb
the planets in their motions.
IL has been estimated BY Dr.. Oibers
Of Bremen, In Germany, that one come,
cat Of 45o, 600, GOO, if there be so masy.
might, in lie revelation, possibly strike
the earth, aud that such 40 event might
happen once in 900, 600 900 Of years.
and ii has been supposed that the de
huge was caused By cemet's eOmina
. in contact with the earth. Bat this
appears improbable, and even impos.
sibie, on the principle Of mUtusl at.
traction, unless the comet consisted
. wholly Of water. For, if the mutual
: attraction Of the earth and q Genet
: when 5000 miies asunder, 10 suli.
cient 20 draw t,em together, accord
Jog to the calculation Of German as.
, tE0nomers, surely when once 10 con
tact, they would continue TO be 80,
, and We should have Que world sticking
, to the side Of aaotherj but no suet
: thing " seen, or ever has been, tha
? We know Of: then where IL the come
! which caused the delsgel Will aDy
> Oss suppose that BY its heat il nSitss
or fused the earth, and when both Be
came cool they emitted and formed on
!. Hete gl0bsi Or, that the collision va
) SO great as 10 reduce both 10 atoms
q whish by their mutssl attraction col
leeted themselves into the globe whIci
We nOv inhahitl Neither oG thes
suppOsitions is consistent both wit
}, ths.laws Of natsTs & the catastrophe q
4 the delsges Were We to suppose iha
. the comet which stuck the earth 40
e psedaeed the food. YES . perfect
, aqueous body, shss selves The questiot
= provided comets wers net heated, b.
" they ass heated 81 Nevton ecSget
]. fHrss, . giObe Of water not more thu
le betting het, woaia seen be dissipate
IN esanm. Hat IN Frtnrn q The snhies