Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-05-29
SEEKING FOR COMETS.

The great observatory at Harvard College was
established in lS47. Among the many brilliant
discoveries made there since its establishment,
are no less than fourteen comets. Nine were
discovered by the indeiatgable labors Of Mr..
Gcorg' =. Bond The tenth was discovered in
March, 1853, by Mr.. Charles w. Tuttle. The
remaining four by Mr.. Horace p Iuttlc.
Few persons are aware of the patience and la
Dor exercised by the astronomer in making dis
coveries Of this kind. 1t requires several years
study and patience to qualify one to discover
telescope comet. 1t is undoubtedly easy to look
at comet already visible TO the naked eye in
the heavens but when it is required to discov-
er an unknown one, wandering in its "long trav-
el of hundred years" in the profound abyss of
space, the labor then becomes truly prodigious.
The amount of physical suffering occasioncd by
exposure to all kinds of temperature, the bend
ing and twisting Of the body when examining
near the zenith and the constant strain of the
eye, cannot be fully understood and appreciated
by one unacquaintcd with an astronomers life.
The astronomer with his telescope, begins at
the going down of the sun, and examines, in
zones, with the utmost care and vigilance, the
starry vault, and continues till the "circling
hours" bring the sun to the eastern horizon,
when star and comet fade from his view. 1t re-
quires several nights to complete thorough
survey of the heavens and often these nights
do not follow in succession being interrupted
by the full moon, by clouds, auroras, and by va
rious other meteorological phenomena. He is
frequently vexcd BY passing Clouds hecting
through the midnight sky, and strong and chilly
brcczcs of the night. His labors are continued
throughout the year, and his unwcaried exer-
tions do not slacken during the long wintry
nights. when the fozen particles Of snow and
ice, driven before the northern blast. cause the
stars to sparkle with unusual lustre, and his
breath to CONCEAL on the eye piece of the telc-
scope. 1t frequently happens that his abors are
not crowned with discovery until after several
Years search.
Nothing can exceed the sublime spectacle pre-
sentcd to the astronomer under clear midnight
sky as he sweeps athwart the gorgeous constcl
lations in their starry dance around their APP
pointed center. Occasionally the field of the tel
cscope is filed with the dazzling radiance of un-
numbered suns of "A variety of rich and beauti-
ful colors. The field Of the telescope is often
illumincd bv the sudden transit of a far-of me
teor invisible to the naked eye. Sometimes
large one falls from the zenith. and silently eX-
ploding. fills the midnight sky with startling
spectral light. The solitude and silence of the
night are broken, in spring, summer, and autumn,
by the low murmuring voices OF migrating birds,
and the half-supprossed bufieting of their weary
wings. which darkcn for a moment the field of
thc Telescope III their high'' ihese are tne on
hNihg companions oi tlie astronomer anoa' Ill
'he sh! At n''unisnl' !,
lnele u " lnoln'"'"l. uNut.rn'.n. Win MS
cd light in the field of his telescope 1t is very
comet like. hut he does not feel quite sure that
he is not tantalized with a nebula-a cluster of
suns-so remote rs to defy the utmost power of
assisted vision to resolve il into its individual
components He Immediately ascertains the
eNac' pos.lol,, anu oA"e' ', is :. ueS .G'
INV" '''"''p'i Va ~, =. !. "..'
eu' nc ooiSo' W 'I' Gus IN
is',' Vi "uni"i' nnt'.i ~ ~, ,.'
Siucreei ciocH aiu 'i'c minute! s'saua.eu 'i
c,sS %, ms l, VI ,rs t as
of The unknown bndv is rigorousIy measured IN.
the micromcter-, work Of UNSURPASSED dclica-
-f~om a star in the same field Al tho end
of spyc~al hours his Inbors are rewarded hv the
discovery of a new nebula. or the slow Inn, do
cisiva morton or n Now comet I, is a momcn,
of intense feeling, A new globe has hove in
sight from the utmost bounds of human vision
Whittier has il come and whittier is II going ,
Wha, * its distance from the earth and from
the sun ? When will il he nearest TO the earth
and when TO the sun? What are its velocity
and magni,udc9 VIII il ever become visible
10 the naked eye9 and has il ever before an
pcared within the memory of man. or ON the
records of history? These are questions that
he cannot Immediately answer His mind aid
ed bv thc most powertll ANALYSIS. nenetrates in
., ~, s,c,ot ,,o,l ;,,,,s nr tb, irfni,o N;rd and
hv a mysterious nroccss evolves the answer to
his Queries
Three con,ple,c observations. made ON three
different dovs mr. lonoer intervals of timc. fur
niSh him with the hosis Of his calculations ofthe
unkrown particulars of the comet. They are
technically called the elements otits orbit With
these tbre, great celestial marks. he nroc,eds TO
the coicula,ion Of tbc elements. n work of ex-
cred;ng yrcot labor and dificul,v. II is a nro.
blem rnrr geometrv. and the illustrious New
ton. who FIRST solved hi, gigantic problem. and
.nnl;ed i, succcss6,llv In the great comet of
1850. pronounced II "Pyoblenta lonqe dificili-
nuu." A distinguished American astronomer
of the last century lRittenhouse. of Philadephia)
wos tbo FIRST American that solved the nrohlem.
lie committed the elements the comet of l77O.
and saws of il. in letter TO the President of the
American Philosopbical Society. "Uerewith |
send Won the fruit of three or four days' labor.
during which have covered sheets. and literal.
lv drained INV inkstand several times. Our eel
I. ID.