Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-05-22

The comet of 1843 was in several
res cects the most remarkable which
has ever been recorded. Most Of our
readers saw this comet, or IN her the
streak of light forming its tail,
which streamed nearly half way
across the sky. This comet APP Gears
to have approached the sun on the
side opposite the earth, SO that ike q
skillful hunter approaching his game,
it was not seen until it appeared in
close contiguity to its surface, and so
bright that it was seen in the day
time by different observers on all
parts of the earth. It's existence was
not suspected at any of the observa-
tories until it had passed its perihe.
lion, and was rapidly retreating
again into darkness. Atsome period
during the early portion of its visit,
it would seem that it must have
swept across the face Of sun like an
eclipse, and we can hardly forgive
the sleepy Swans for neglecting to
detect this extraordinary event, as it
would have afforded so fine an oppor-
tunity to note exactly the degree of
transparency of all parts of its nu.
cleus or head, which they subsequent
ly decided was $4,000 miles in diam
eter. It's tail was at one time 10000,
900 miles in length, considerably
more than the whole distance from
the earth to the sun. At its perihe-
lion passage or point of nearest APP
proach to the sun, it must have al
most or quite grazed against its i'm
tensly fiery surface; in fact, the plain
and unvarnished results Of some of
the careful calculations made, would
imply that it had actually entered sub
stance. 1t retreated so nearly di-
rectly from the suns center that some
Observes were at loss to decide
which way it had passed around.
Comets are attracted by, but do not
in return produce any sensible attrac-
ton on any of the planets or their
satellites, near which they pass
But more intensely overwhelming
proof of the tenuity Of comets is the
fact that in several instances stars
which have been in their path, have
been observed to shine dimly through
the thicl<est portion of their sub
stance. II cannot be said that this
has been observed with regard TO the
brightest central point Of any large
and worry brilliant comet, but several
instances have been observed where
the comatry mass, distinctly ascer'
tanned TO be several thoustnd miles in
diameter, has passed over clusterr Of
minute stars, all of which latter have
distinctly seen throughout the whole
period of its passage. Some comets
are supposed 10 have u small amount
of solid substance, as nucleus, but
the great must BIO composed o.
something far less dense than cloud
or even than the ordinary gases O
our atmosphere.
Many comets exhibit indications
that the luminous portions arc sup
ported on the surface Of cloudy OF
simply transparent atmosphere below
The nucleus, or head of a large comet
is usually light at the center, sur
rounded, especially on the side
towards the sun, by a luminous cap
which can only be explained by
supposing the nucleus to be envelopeC
at considerable distance in ligh
cloudy covering, which is mos
plainly visible at the edges, where, by
looking edgewise through the sheet
a greater depth of light becomes Wis
ible--Scientifc American.