The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-03-30
THE COMET!
liYpRcGRAPuiCAL OrrIcr.

SATURDAY NIGHT, March is, 1913.
Amer week Of hosicrous and cloudy wealth.
or, we WERE al length favored for short time
this evening with a sight Of the comet.
For the first time since its appearance the
moon was absent, and a, quarter after seven
o'clock a most magnificent spectacle was pre
scented TO our view Across tho western sky
luminous train was spread out, in a welldaiiued
hut diEerging pencil of white light, that shot M
from the comet like streamer in the heavens
and presented most splendid and beautiful an
pcarauce; II was 40 degrees long, and, at two
thirds OF the way up, i degree 30 minutes broad
This strange star" has passed its periheion,
and is now Fastening back 10 roam about in the
remote regions Of southeastern space whence il
came. Its nucleus begins 10 grow dim and its
train to pass away. The former could be seen
through whiiish and family luminous vapor.
called tho coma; and, as viewed with the tele
scope the whole appearance of the head itself
as TO color aud brIancy. was not unlike a very
feeble light as seen througI' the shade of an as.
trail lamp
Very near tie comet itself there was a star
twinklng through lis haze, aud which. with the
naked eve, might readily enough be mistaken for
the nucleus, and which no doubt was so mista
ken by many.
1t now appears that the length tho tail, in
Gliding the arch, seen here on the eth, could
rot have been less than upward OF one hundred
degrees.
/ An tho planets, except Vesta. Juno, Palas.
and Ceres, arc at this time to the west of the
sun aud the comet, though possibly 1t may vet
cross the orbit Of one or moro of them, is rapidly
i leaving tho planets themselves behind therefore
danger if such danger there could ever boz Of its
coming in contact with any member OF the plan.
etary system Is all over.
Hallcy's comet passed near enough to Jupiter
and Saturn TO be retarded by them in It's visit
nearly two years and yet the "harmonv Of the
spheres was never interrupted for moment
by that eccentric vsiter.
Ii is said that the moon was once eclinsed bv
a comet; if so, the comet must have been much
nearer to tho earth than the noon is but it
neither left it's tail with us nor robbed US Of our
beautiful satellite; nor did it bring upon us any
manner of harm whatever.
In l456 the comet of "tcrriblc magnitude" ap.
peared. The Turks were then waging a bloody
and successful war against the Christians lis
tail, pointed TO the east, was sixty degrees long,
and bent like a sabre 1t filed Christendom with
awe, and tho Pope, regarding il signal Of
Divine wrath and vengeance, ordered day of
humiliation and prayer, and offered one years
indulgence to all, who, at the tolng of the
MONDAY boil, should repeat three paternosters
and as many Ave Maras. In this observance
originated. il is said, the custom still prevalent in
Catholic countries Of ringing the bells at noon.
II is to be hoped that the astronomers of Eu-
rope, with their powerful glasses. had the good
fortune to discover the comet of to-day when it
first entered our system If so, it may serve as
clue put in our hands to guide us to some now
truth in tho nebulous theory, or among the won.
ders of the heavens.
NJ 7, MAURY, q. S, Navy