The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-03-30

rom the sun. Its tail was Hls.nl0s LOT
q lonp time after its body was beneaah |
The horizon, and extended 20 deg. or /
80 deg. above the horizon, 2 hours BEL
fore sunrise. Another comet appear
ed in June, 177o, and was visible for
a long time. Lexell ascertained that
il described an elipse around she sun, |
OF which the greatest axis was only
three time the diamter Of the earth Or
bit. Although frequently looked for,
It has not since been seen.
Encke's Comet was discovered al
Marseilles, Nov. 9th 1917. Encke as
certained that il took only 1900 days
to travel through the whole extent Of
its elliptic orbit. Ii re-appeared in
1928, '32, IS and SO, and occupied
the places assigned by the astronomer
whose name il bears. II is very small
its light is feeble, and it has no tail.
Gambart' Connect makes its entire rev.
olution round the sun in about Z years
Ii was predicted thar it would cross
the plane Of the earth's orbit, on the
goth October, 1882, a little before
midnight at point about 19,4SO
miles within the orbit Of the earth. 1t
actually made its appearance about the
time specified, and created great alarm.
Arago published a statement at the
time to aIlay popular fear, showing that
on the 80 ofO 1882, portion of the
earth's orbit might be included within
the nebulosity, Of the comet. but that
the Comet would not arrive at the same
point of its orbit, until the morning ofthe
Both Of November. or more than month
after, and that consequently the earth
would be 100000 of British miles
distant from the Comet. He adds
that ''if the Comet, instead of crossing
the plane Of the ecliptic on the goth of
October, had not arrived there until
the morning Of the 3Orh November, it
would undoubtedly mingle its atmos-
phere with ours, and perhaps even
have struck us.'' The earth is consid-
cred in more danger, if danger their
be, from this comet and that Of Encke,
than from any other. Encke's comet
crosses The orbit Of the earth 60 times
in the course of a century. The COM
ct oil 1907, was visible in the evening,
and appeared to the naked eye, like a
dim uebulous star, with beam oflght
on one side OF il.
The comet Of 1911 is regarded as
the most remarkable of modern times.
The nucleus was $4,000 miles in
diameter, and il was visible 10 the ma
ked eye for more than three months in
succession. The greatest length of
the tail on the 18th Of October, is esti-
mated at $50. 900 yearst Halley's COM
ca was sesn for tho last time in 1898
Il was visible to the naked eye, and
the utmost extent Of the tail was esti-
mated TO be about thirty degrees in
length.- --Coruscations were observed
in the tail. The appearance of this
comet, says Dick, SO near the time
predicted by astronomers, and in
position so nearly agreeing with those
which were previously calculated,
shews that comets in general are per-
lar system, and that no very consider
able change in their constitution takes
place while trayerslng the distant parts
of their orbits. We cannot better con-
ciude our article than in giving some
remarks on the influence Of comets;
from the pen Of professor Dick.
''1n all the works Of the Diety, we
must admit that his goodness is display
although we may not be able to trace
the mode OF its communication; for we
may lay down as an axiom, that what
ever wisdom and omnipotence are exn
hibited throughout the Divine econo-
my, there is delay ofbensfccmce, which
appears 10 be one prominent design Of
all the works of God, Comets have
been considered as objects of terror
and as omens Of independing calami-
ties but there can be no question that
they are as intimately connected with
system ofbeneyolence, as are the so
lor radiations and their benign infiu-
eDce on our globe and on the other
planets. II has 10 the other planets,
and iaviporate The vital principle of
our atmost Aere; that they may recruit
the sun with fresh fuel and repair the
consumption of his tight !; or thai they
may be the agents for dispensing the
electate fluid through the planetary re-
gions and although there is little pro-
liability thar such conjectures are ac-
cordant With facts, yet it may be sd-
mitted that comets may produce d
physical physical influence Of a ben
e6cial nature throughout the solar sys-
| tem.--
But what conceive TO be one ofthe
main designs of the Creator in the for
nation Of such vas; number ofsplen-
DID bodies y, that they may serve as
habltatlons Tor myraids of intellectual
beings, 10 whom Almighty displays
bis perfections 10 i peculiar manner.
4 and an rvlsnn1 hn 49, .~,v-. IL :. ~