Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-03-16

helion, and slowly when ia aphelion. Some move
with incredible swiftness. The Comet which APP
peared in if72, passed through 100 degrees in
DAYS; and that of l760 altered its longitude by
Al degrees in "a hours. Were they near the
earth, these quick movements would no, so much
excite our wonder but WHEN we consider their
prodgious distances, (which in general, far execcd
the distance Of the mos. remote planets) we can
not but be astonished at the fearful velocity with
which they move.
The figures of comets vary. as do also their sizes
and sometimes the same come, alters its figure
In the course Of few days. Some comets seem TO
be only congeries of vapofs illsdefned transparent
throughout, and rejecting very little light. Others
are of similar nature, excepting that denser sub
!. within the raried vapor-lilse substance.
Almost all comets are surrounded by dense atmo.-
phere., which patty reflect the suns light, and at
the sametime, prevent that lights falling in con
siderable quantity upon the nucleus. orsoid part of
the comet; 40 that the illumination Of the solid
part. although brighter than the tail ia not equal
to that of the moon. A comets brightness always
changes with it's distance from the sun and, ct
the same time, 1t puts forth certain elongntons of
luminous matter, which have been allied bsards, or
hairs, tails. according so their different posi-
tons and appearances. These elongatiops are
sometimes very short and almost invisible; a, other
tmes they trend tho heavens to prodig ious
distance: but they are Away. directed from the
sun. When the comet 10 sosirard of the sun,
and moves from that planet. /, is said to be bearded
because tho luminous elonsaion goes before IL;
when ii Is westrnrd Of tho sun, and sets otter
him, it is then said have tail, because the u-
minous elongation follows ii; and when the earth
happens TO be directly hetwesn the Gun and the
comet, then the train of eh, s hid behind tho body
OF the comet, and liisls Of II only !. on the
sides Of tho comst--whieh form, the hairy ap-
psarsnce.
comets tail Is, al hrs,, shor,--bu, It increases
as il approaches the sns. When the comet is in
psrhelion, It's tell ia longest, and most luminous
it 10 thsn generally somewha, curved towards those
hs. resched lis greatest length, It quickly decrsa
sss--soen vanishes--sni is Immediately followed
by the disappearance Of the comet itself. The h.
minous matter of which the tall is formed !. so
pellucd tina, the smallest stars are .pen through it,
The spcndor Of comets increase. a. they sp-
prosch the sun, although their apparent dianeters
may seem to grow less, in consequence OF their
receding from the earth. | have snid that their
sizes vary. Some are small a. to be invisible
without the aid Of telescope, while others have
equalled the suns disc, Their tails. in general.
expand, as they rccede from the nucleu. of the
comet. comet, in l744, had its elongation
something like fan, divided into various branches.
This extension is sometimes astonishngly great
reaching over 80 degrees, or half CIRCLE
Whence ii haa been calculated that their real length
must exceed 60 or 80 millions q miles,
tits not known whether the tail. of comet. be
train Of pne light, or of vspor., or OF something
electrical, similar to the aurora 5orealis; but it
appears that tho increase in sprnior Of a comet,
and the appearance Of the tail, are derived from
Tho sun.
The sre-t comet Of 1880 projected tail, sx-
landing over more than 40 degrees Of the heavens.
This comet approached SftAta ONE s,9th part of
The diameter Of The sun TO the sun. And it i. sup
posed by astronomers, that tho heat it received
from thence must have been three thousand times
the most solid bodies could bear so intense heat.
il j. inferred that comets arc not vspots and ex-
hslstons raised from the several celestial bodies,
as some have said.
So much FOR comets in general. In a paper be-
fore me, 6nd that a comet has been visible for
some time back, 10 the northern statssi but f the
appearance which is supposed, in this region 10 be
a comets tail belongs 70 this particular comet, II
has varied considerably since its advent. That
comet is seem near the sun, Gays the newspaper y
its tail is about degrees in lengh and il equals
Venus in brilliancy.
have referred to the effects of eclipse. and
comets upon mankind, 10 darker ages of civiliza-
ton. They have not yet lost their tsrrou-snd
anxious eyes, nightly, seem to escIsm,
BLESS US, what dreadful wonder
Is that spPears in Heaven yondsr."
To the north0ard, doubtless, this spectacle in the
sky Is a seasonsbie blessing TO the desdsd Miller
itess for tcomss just in time to foriy thor fail
ing faith that the worlds end and natures funeral
are at hand Mr.. Miller ought to bless his star.
that The comet hss appeared!
our village furnishes its quota of gszcrs at the
phenomenon; and, among the many surmises, a
bout the apprehension founded in terror, some
in admirstion,-l was struck with one mans
remark, that (although il is complete episode,) |
beg leave to close this communication with nara.
rivs OF il. Several gentlemen were gazing in
group, at the singular spectacle-one asserting il
was a rainbow; another that il was comets tall
a third that il was heecy cloud fourth that il
vas water.spout-and so on when man who
had been hitherto silent, said seriously, ale did
not know what IL but IL he ,oas on csry kigh
place, so 10 see the ether end Of IL. he might
be able TO TELL" This reminds me of an anecdote
Of schoolhoy times. A class was being examined
in some of the branches taught in the institution
and the master asked one of the boys "where the
sun rose 7" 'ln the east. sir" answered the boy
"Where does he set !" again asked the Ksight of
the Ferrule. "Behind the mountain, sir ''--re-
.ponded the precocious pupil. "WeIl, sir. said
the master: sand how does he get round to the
ea ~ agninfn uT,srLon II .neake souud In the