Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-03-28
THE COMET.

This beautiful celestial phenomenon has
been visible every evening for a number OF
weeks, when the Heavens have not been
obscured by clouds. The tail or train is
about thirty-five degrees in length, its nu-
cleus is invisible TO the naked eye. This
comet is visible, and has been the subject
of considerable remark IN different parts Of
the United States. There seems to be some
diversity Of opinion among astronomers,
whether this phenomenon in the heavens
is comet or zodiacal light. The greater
proportion Of The opinions, however, which
we have seen, pronounce il a comet. In
asmuch as .s appearance at this time, has
not been predicted by astronomers, it is
most likely one of the underlined wanderers
through the immensely of space. The
Boston papers say that in some portion of
New England it has been visible 10 the ma
ked eye at noon day, and that the lnhablt-
ants Of some Of tho towns have been thrown
into CONSERVATION and alarm, in conse-
ouancc of the extraordinary phenomenon.
We cannot make room for the many spec
uIa,oas found in the papers, both learned
and unlearned, in relation to the comet
The following from a gentleman OF sci
ence, addressed TO the Washington Globe,
must suffice for the present.
HYDRoGR OFFICE, March IL. l943.
From sunset, till the stars came ont, our
telescopes were intently pointed to the
Western sky, with the hope Of catching at
ieasta glimpse Of the comet through the ia
ding twilight. But we were compelled to
conten: ourselves with admiring the won
derfuI beauty and grandeur Of its train,
the irs' traces Of which were seen at 6h.
2m. si'ar;a TIM. AT Oh. 2Sm. It's great
est breadth was Dig 40 min, as nearly
as could be ascer'ained, for the bright
moonlight rendered the measurement i'm
perfect. At 10 minutes after O'Clock
the tail had not gone down, but had grad
ual!y fad, ID away ia the haze Of the west.
Comparing nv own observations with
the accounts which have already reached
us from difa rent parts Of the country, there
appears now to be but little doubt but that
this is the tail Of a comet and that the head
itself has been seen at midday IN the East,
with the naked eve. If so. for length OF
tail and magnitude Of nebula. it may be
caSsed among the most remarkable that
has ever appeared. In the year 43 B. G.
historians tell us Of a hairy star that was
seen bv day light. In the year A. ID. 1902
two comets were seen in broad day, and
the tail Of one Of them at noon. Tycho
Brahe discovered a comet by day light in
1877. The comet Of l744 could be seen
in the day time without the aid Of glasses.
Its tail. though not so long as this, was
curved, and formed an arc Of 90 degrees;
though, for part Of the time. it had seve-
! III coils. tho l~~s.h Of which vnr'od fro"
80 dcg. to 40 deg. The comet Of 1880
the most celebrated Of modern times-had
a tail computed at from 20 deg. to 80 deg.
That Of 1918 had the largest tail on rec
ord-lO4 deg; and this vies with that in
length.
"The TAIL" says Vince, in his Astrono-
nv. "increasos as the comet approaches
its pcrihelion; Immediately after which, is
most longest and most luminous, and then
it is little bent and convex towards those
part. to which the comet is moving; the
tail then decreases
If this comet has obeyed this rule, it has
already double the sun. and is now on its
way back, to be again lost in the regions
Of space. NJ. f. MAURY,
Lieut.. of the u. s. Nary.