Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-23

had entirely disappeared. The morn
ing observations were diligently renew
ed. but nothing could be seen worthy Of
note.
Wednesday, flying masses of "cirrus
stratus" occasionally obscured the sun;
but preparations were made for deter
mining the right ascension and declina-
ton Of the 'spot'' on the disc of the sun,
if, perchance, that spot should prove to
be the nucleus of the comet. At noon,
( the clouds broke away from the sun,
and, though the glass was of feeble pow
er, the well-defined dark spot was dis
tinctly seen through it. The instrument
Itself was graduated to seconds, with mi
crometer readings; and, while the SUI
was in transit, observations for apparent
right ascension and declnation of the
''spot" were made, with the hope of re-
porting them the next day. aud thence
deducing its motions during the interval.
A thickly cloudetI sky all of Thursday,
and SO far of Friday, 90 a. n.y. with
every prospect of continuance, has not
permitted this hope to be rea'ized.-
! hIost of :he afternoon of w ednesday the
sun was obscured, or but dimiy seen
| through the masses of intervening clouds.
1t. however, set in a clear and narrow
streak of reddish sky, which was soon
covered up by bank of clounds 10 deg.
high. Above this mass, and upwards,
the sky was, for the most part, clear;
and though the evening was not favora-
BILE for, the appearance of "zodiaca'
light" the clear sky was watched with
eager but confident expectation of again
seeing the same beautiful phenomenon,
which had excited cur admiration and
wonder for the two evenings previous
Accordingly, at 5h. sam, sderial time,
and much to the delight of all present,
this beautiful streak of light was dimly
seen. In twenty minutes afterwards it
was most distinct, spanning the south
western sky with faint nebulous arch,
that away beyond Sirius. to the
east, and rested on Epsilon in the con-
stellation of the Great Dog. Ii meas
ured IS deg. in length above the heri
zon, far below which it seemed to ex-
tend. At 6h. 24tn., just thirty minutes
from its first appearance, this magnificent
spectacle,was lostin the gathering clouds.
Tie next morning, observations i'll the
east were again renewed, as before, but
without discovering any traces OF nucle
us, tail, or Zodiacal light.
The sky has remained completely O.
vercast up to the hour of writing. and no
opportunity has occurred for repeating
The observations, by which the motions
(if any Of the spot over the SUMS disc
might be Appropriated.
Such, up to the present time. is'the
history, such has been the appearance OF
this phenomenon, as observed here
The return of clear wea tier and the.ac-
counts Of other observers are anxlouslY
looked for. So far, my own observa-
tons are not sufficient so enable me to-
hazard more than mere conjecture;
much less would they justify any posi-
tive assertion. as to whether this be the
tail of a comet or not. If it be comet.
the probabilities are that it is receding
from the sun. and will soon again be
lost to us.
ME- MAURV, Lieut.. U. s. N.
1.-THE STRANGE LIGH T" AGAIN.
HydrogrQphical Office, .Mvch II, 1843.
Advantage was taken of The clear SKI
this morning to examine the disc of the
sun for the spot which so much attracted
our attention and excited our specula-
tons few days ago. 1t was gone! Sub
sequent observations may enable US to
determine 2wether or not this spot was
the nebula of a comet.
The wind was high, and the sun unob-
scured after TO- m.; and, though the
day was yesy unfavorable for observa-
tions, search for the comet was diligent
Iy renewed 1t could not be seen.
From sunset till the stars came out,
our telescopes were ;ntently pointed to
the westean sky, with the hope Of catch
ing at least glimpse of the comet
through the fading twilight. But we
were compelled to content ourselves with
admring the wonderful beauty and gran
,leur Of its train, the first traces oil which
were seen at Oh. en-, siderial time
At 6h. 28m., its greatest breadth was !
deg. 80 min.,. as nearly as could be as
certained. for the bright moonlight.ren.
dered the measurement imperfect. The
curve, before described, was again seen
this evening, and in the same position,
but much more indistincly. Alto min
utes after 0 O'Clock, the tail had not
gone down, but had gradually faded IA
way in the blaze Of the west.
Comparing my own observations with
the accounts which have already reached
US from diferment parts of the country.
there appears now to be but little doubt
but that this is the tail of comet, and
I that the head itself has been seen at mid
day in the East, with the naked eye
If so, for length of tail and magnitude OF
nebula. it may be classed among the
most remarkable that have ever appear
ed. In the year 43 b. c.. historians
.tel,.us Of a.hairy star that was seen by
daylight. In the A. d. 1909. two com
els were seen in.broadday and the tail
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