Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-04-07
From the National latelHgencer.
THE COMET.
HYDRoGRAPHICAL OFEIUE,

Saturday night. March Is. l843
AfterSaSweek Of boisterous and cloudy
weather, we!were at length favored for
a short time this evening with a sight
Of the comet.
For the first time since its appearance
The moon was absent, and at a quarter
past seven O'Clock most magnificent
spectacle was presented to our view
Across the western sky luminous train
was spread; out, in a we'll defined but
diVerglngs pencil of white light, that
shot up from the comet like streamer
IN the heavens, and presented most
sPIended and beautiful appearance; it
was forty degrees long, and, at two.
thirds OF the way up, degree DO min
utes broad. This strange star" has
passed its periheIon, and is now hasten.
ing back 10 roam about in the remote
regions Of southeastern space, whence
it came. Its nucleus begins 10 grow dim
and its train to pass away. The form
er could be seen through a whitish and
family luminous vapor, called the coma; +;
and, as viewed with the telescope, the
whole appearance Of the head itself, as
to color end briiiancy, was not unlike a
very feeble light as seen through the
shade Of an astral lamp.
Very near The comet itselfthere was
star twinkling through its haze, and
which, with the naked eye, might rea.
dily enough be mistaken for the nucleus,
ard which no doubt was so mistaken by
many.
ltnow appears that the length of the
tail, including the arch, as seen here on
the Slh, could not have been less than
upwards ofone hundred degrees.
All the planets, except Vesta, Juno,
PaIlas, and Ceres, are at this time 10 the
west Of the sun; and the comet, tn ough
possibly.it may yet cross the orbit oI
one or more of them, is rapidly Ieavin g
The planets themselves behind; therefore
danger ( such danger there could ever
be) ofits coming in contact with any
| member Of the planetary system is all
over.
Haley's comet passed near enough ID
Jupiter and Saturn 20 be retarded by
them in its visit near two years; and yel
the "harmouy of the spheres" was ne
yer interrupted for moment by thai
eCcrentic viSiter.
1t is said that the moon was once
ecIipsed by a comet; if so, tho comet
must have been much nearer TO the
earth than the moon is; but it neither
left lis tail with US nor robbed US of oul
beautiful satellite; nor did it bring upor
US any manner OF harm whatever.
In 1856 the comet of "terrib4e magn
tude" appeared. The Turks were ther
waging a bloody and successful wal
against the Christians Its tail, point
ing to the east, was sixty degrees long
and bent like a sabre. 1t filled Chris.
tendon with awe, and the Pope, regard
ing it as a signal OF Divine wrath ant
vengeance, ordered day Of Humiliation
and prayer, and offered one years in.
duIgence to all who, at the tolIing o
the MONDAY bell, should repeat three
paternosters and as many Ave Marias
In this observance originated it is said
the custom still prevalent in Catholic
countries Of ringing he bells at noon.
1t is to be hoped that the astronomer
Of Europe. with their powerful glasses
had the good fortune to discover III
comet Of to day when il first entered ou
system. II so, it may serve as clue il
our hands to guide US to some new trulI
in the nebuIous theory, or among tn,
wonders Of the heavens.
!; M. F. MAURY, U S. Navy.