Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-05-23
The Comet.

A scientific contributor to the Newburv
por, Herald. of the 10Th, gives the result
Of an observation of the comet, and we
think his account will be read by man,
with peculiar interest. We therefore give
i, at Length:
| By the assistance of c. W. futile,
Esq, late assistant at the Astronomical
Observatory of Harvard University, now
resident in this city, we were able to see
this comet on Friday last with Mr.. Gree.
nough's achromatic telescope, notwilh.
standing the brilliancy ofthe full moon and
the strong twilight prevailing at tina, time
1t was more satisfactorily seen on Satur-
day night with the same instrument. A,
that time it was on the confines of the cir.
cumpolar constellation Cdmelopard, nea,
Ursa Major. 1t exhibited a round, neb.
ulous mass of light. slightly concentrated,
Of about two minutes of arc in diameter.
Its excessive faintness on both occasions.
was owing to the united effects of the full
moon and strong twilight. There being
no known star within the reach of the
annular micrometer, its position could only
approximately be determined.
| At our request, Mr.. Tuttle has furnished
US with the following particulars concern
ing the comet: This comet is one re.
Gently added to that list of periodical COM
cts of shor, period, embracing Encke's,
Biela's, Faye's and de Vico's. 1t was first
discovered by MIR. Brorsen. whose name
it bears. at kiel. on the 18th of Februa.
ry, 1916. He describes it az very faint,
and though it remained visible very long
time in the telescope, ii never became 50
to the naked eye. 1t passed its peribelion
on the 25th of February, 1s47. almost a
year after its discovery. Astronomers
soon found that no parabolic eleme nts
would satisfy the observations. and be,ook
themselves to elliptic elements. which were
found to represent a path through the
heavens, corresponding with the observed
one. Dr.. Brunnow. Hind, and De Ham
were the most successful in computing tho
elliptic elements. Their period, howev.
er, was little short of the actual one
which has taken place but it will be re-
collected that no account OF planetary per-
turbation was considered by them. Its
return was anticipated by astronomers,
and DR.. Bruhus, a German astronomer,
guided by an ephemeris, detected it on the
night Of the 18th oflast March, on or near
Aries. 1t was also independently detect
ed at the Harvard Observatory. The
comet was fastening to its perihelion
when first seen, and reached il on the 29th
Of March, having made complete tour
around the sun in ten years and about one
month.
The elements of this comet resemble
those Of the comets Of 1882 and 1861.
and if they are identical, then this comet
has continued to revolve around the sun
once in every ten years since, unseen by
human eye, till the 25th Of February 1916,
when it was discoved by Bronson. The
dimensions Of its orbit are now well as
eerained. Its aphelion is beyond the or.
bit Of Jupiter by more than thirty-six MIL
lions Of miles. At its perihelion it was
just within the orbi, of Venus. The
comets geocentric motion, at this time. is
mostly in right ascension, being upwards
Of fifteen minutes of time daily from west
to east. On the 23d inst, it will be near
the bright star Beta Urse Majoris. 1t
was nearest the earth on the 9Th inst,
being then about twenty millions Of miles
distant. 1t is now receding from US, and
will not be visible to the naked eye during
its present apparition. This is the comet
which the Europeans announced would
strike the earth in June. But in Ameri.
ca it has been COMPOUNDED with the great
comet of 1866, which has not yet appear
ed. The return of this comet, according
to prediction, may be regarded as another
Of brilliant series Of astronomical tri-
umphs.
With an object Of glass Of only two
inches diameter, the comet was distinctly
seen at 9 o'clock, last evening, about mid.
way between Omicon and ri, Urse Ma.
joris.
6 Ma, does pa kiss you because be |
loves vo, an 7ss inou;,>d 1;f,l. .nv;o,,.