Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-10-02
The Comet.

FLORENCE, Italy 1t was also discovered by
Henry NJ. Parkhurst, Esq, of Perth Am
boy, New jersey, June % A very stri-
king characteristic OF this comet was when
first discovered, its extremely slow motion
The great distance of the comet, and the
direction of its motion, as seen from the
earth, combined to render its apparent gco
centric motion very small I'm consequence
OF its slowncss of motion, its period of Wis
ibility will be very great. 1t has already
been visible through a telescope nearly two
months and a half; and it will probably re-
main in sight for considerable length of
time yet The head or star of the comet
appears about equal TO a star of the second
magnitude; and us it has not yet reached
the pcrihelion Cthat point nearest to the
SUM OF its orbit, it will yet be considera-
bly, brighton, and sent splendid appear
ance. Its tail, as viewed with small tel
cscope mogHifying about eight times. was
about 4 or 5 degs. in length on Sunday
evening, the 18th of September. 1T is a
wcll-known fact, however, that the tail has
much greater length immediately after
the pcrihelion passage than at any other
time; md hence we may expect that its
length Will be much moro considerable than
at present.
This is the fifth comet discovered since
the beginning of 1858, the first OF which
was discovered on the lth Of january but
as the first four will form the subject for an
other article, we will say no more about
them here.
The comet now visible will pass its peri
helion according to the elements of Mr.
George Scarle, Assistant at the Dudley OBJ
acryatory--on the 18th of Scptcmbcr.--
The parabolic clements of comets orbit
are six i'll number, namely: time of peri
hclon passage, longitude OF the pcriholion,
longitude of ascending nolc, inclination of
the plano of its orbit to the plane of tho &C.
liptic. the pcrihelion distance, and the di-
rection of its motion. If the motion be in
the same direction around the sun as the
motion of the planets, it is said to be direct
if in the opposite direction, rctrograde.
The longitude of the pcriheion of this
come; is about 80 deg, and of the ascen-
ding node about 1876 deg. The inclination
is about GS deg. The perihclion distance
is about 100000 ,000Hmiles, or little great
er than the mean distance of Mercury from
the Sun. Its motion is rctrogladc, so that
its apparent motion is from right to left,
as seen at this time The velocity of the
comet when at its pcrihcion, will be about
$50, 600 miles per hour. Its distance from
the earth at this time, roughly estimated,
is about S7,OOO,000 miles. Its tail is at
least 100000 miles in length
Several parabolic clements have been
computed, but as these differ considerably
from each other, it is thought, with much
| probability, that the comet moves in an
cllipsc of moderate ccccntrcity, and hence
that its time of revolution around the sun
is not very great. The clements cores
pond with those of the first comet of 1927,
and with those of 176i This will make
the period of revolution about 81 years.
The period of 63 years comprchended be-
tween l764 and 1927 will embrace two re-
turns to its perihelion The difference of
half year is within the limits of perturba-
tion. This will make its return previous
to 1927, i'll i795 If this be its true ne
riod, Its next return may becXpected about
1889 or 1890 Time will soon determine
these questions. With this period its mean
distance from the SUI viii 5o about TIC
same as that of Saturn; and when it is in
the aphclion greatest distance from the
! sun) of its orbit, it will be about the mean
distance of Uranus
Running back two periods from 1764 to
1902, we find the recorded appearance of
a comet visible to the naked eye We also
find one in 1872, one period back
The best view of the comet can be had
in the morning, aboutSl or 4 O'clock
The direction of its tail points toward the
north polar star. .-Yep Yorh Tribune.
n GOLDEN THoUGHr SET IN PEARLS
In speaking of marriages for money, Miss
Aluloch, the eminent writer, observes, and
we think very justly:
Marriages ought always to be ques-
tion not of necessity, but choice. Every
girl ought to be taught that lovecss union
stamps upon her as foul dishonor as one of
! those connections which omit the legal GER,
emony altogether-an that, however pale,
dreary and toilsome single life may be,
unhappy married life must be fold worse,
an eyerlraunting temptation, an incurable
regret, torment from which there is no es
cape but death"
FHE RIouT UsE or THE EYRs.--An Italian
bishop, who had endured much persecution
with calm. unruflcd, temper, was asked
how he attained such mastery over himself
= by maklnga right use of my eyes, said
he. Il first look to heaven, ms the place
who're am going TO live forever. | next
look down upon the earth, and consider how
small a space Of it will soon bo all th,t / can
occupy or want. then look around me.
and think how many are far moro wretehei
than anlD
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