Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-04-01
It II T. co II l. Il
UYDgOC GRAPHICAL OFFICE,
S.ruRp.y %rc,,-r iaRcu Is l.

OAIChDAf haAh'a 80 1Ao.
After a week Of boisterous and cloudy weaih-
or, We wero at length favored for short time
this evening with a sight OF the comet.
For the first time since lis appearance the
moon was abb. Of. and pt quarter after seven
O'Clock q most magnificent spectacle "as pfesen-
ted 10 our view. Across the western sky iu-
sninous train spread out, IN weH'dehned but
diverpng pencil Of " bite light. that shot up from
tho come, like sreamer ~ the heavens, and
presented most splendid and beautiful appear
ance; it was 40 degrees long, and, at two thirds
of the way up, degree 40 minutes broad. Ihts
"strange lighi'' has passed IT'S pefiheiinn' ana Is
now has,eniap back to roam about IN the remote
regions Of southeastern space, whence II came
lis nucleus begins 10 grow dim and ne tram 10
pass away. The former could be seen through "A
wbitish and family luminous sapor, called the
coma; AMI, as viewed with The telescope, the
whole appearance Of the head itself, TO color
and briiiIancy, was not unlike very feeble light
as seen through the shade of an astral lamp
Very near tho comet itself there was a star
ivinking through its haze, and which, with the
naked eye night readily enough be mistaken for
the nucleus, aud which no doubt was so mistaken
by many.
II nov appears tia, the length Of the tail, in
cludiog Tho arch, seen here on the Sih, could
not hive been less than upwards O: one hundred
degrees.
All tho planets except Vesia. Juno, Pallas. and
Ceres, are at this time TO The west Of the sun;
and the comet, though possibly 1t may Yet cross
the orbit Of one or m1re Of them, IS rapidly leaV-
ing tho planets themselves behind; therefore dan
ger (if such danger there could ever be) OF ITS
coming in contact with any member OF the plan
eiaTy system ia all over.
Haley's comet passed near enough 10 Jupiter
and Saturn To be retarded by them IN its visit
nearly Two years; and yet the ''harmony OF the
spheres" was never interrupted for a moment by
that eccentric yisiter.
II is said that the moon was once ccliPscd by
cornut, &c 60, .ha comet must ho~e been '"~~t'
nearer TO the earth than the moon Is; but II neI-
Their lief, its iaii with robbed us Of our
beautiful satellite; nor did it bring upon US any
manner &c harm whatever.
In 1856 the comet Of 'teTribe magnitude" ap.
peared. Tho Turks wore then waglng bloody
aud successful war against the Christians Its
tail, pointing TO the east, was sixty degrees Icing,
and ben, like sabre. 1t filed Chss'ondom with
nwe md the Pope. ardiug i, as a signal Of Dl-
vine wrath aud vengeance. ordered a day Of hui
mIia ton and prayer, and offered one years IN.
du,nenco TO al! who. at tho ollng of the monday
bell, should repeat three paternosers and as ma
nv Ave Marias. In this observance originated,
il is said, The custom still prevalent in Catholic
countries Of ringing the bells at noon
II is 10 DO hoped that tho astronomers OF Eu-
ropo, with their powerful glasses, had the good
fortune TO discover the comet Of today when 1t
&, st cntcred our system. If so, it may serve as
a clue put in our hands TO guide US to some new
truth in tho ncbuious theory, among the won
ders Of tho heavens.
NJ +. MAURY, u. S. Navy.