Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-10-16

in its tail, of upwards of one hundred degrees
long. Longmontanus describes it "cum ribrd-
tione cnormi." The comet of 1852 in the iudg-
ment of lievelius and others, almost equaed
the moon in size, and was of pale livid color.
On the l4th day of November, 1850, Godfrey
Kirch, at Coburg in Saxony, discovered Il com
ct in the constellation Leo. Two days after its
perihelion passage, which occurred on the 18th
of December, it became visible in the evening
sky, and was an object of universal attention,
the train extending over a vast arc of the sky,
frequently appearing from 20 to 90 degrees in
length and sensibly curved at the extremity, so
as to resemble an enormous sabre The nucleus
is described as a confused mass of light not par
ticularly bright to the nakedeye, but in tele-
scope rescmbcd "burning coal" This comet
was observed in all parts of the world and was
last seen by Sir Isaac Newton on the 10Th of
March, 1851. Newton, having devised method
OF representing the apparent motion of comets
applied it to this, and found that the comet, at
the time of pcrihelion passage, almost grazed the
suns surface, moving with velocity of $50 900
miles in an h u. The great comet of 1913 is
the oily one that has approached nearer TO that
luminary. The comets tail extended to more
than one hundred millions of miles from the nu-
cleus. Prof. Encke after a very elaborate in
vestgation of the observations of this comet,
concluded that it required no less than eight
thousand eight hundred years to reyolye around
the sun.
The comet of liza is regarded the most
splendid of the eighteenth century. In the month
OF February of that year the comet was n CON
spicuous object in the western sky The head
on the lth equalled Venus in brillinncv. Ches-
aux declares that at one time it exhibited six
tails, emanating from the head forming rays
like a fam This comet was an ohjcc, of very
t,,t. 81. .l.l..
In the autumn of 1869, there was seen a re-
markable comet, with tail curved towards its
extremity, and one hundred degrees long. DIR.
Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal of England, and
MesSier of Paris, observed it. Bessel found
that this comet would probably return in two
thousand and ninety Years.
Notwithstanding but little more than half of
the nineteenth century has run out, there have
appeared, already, six large comets. That of
1907 was particularly observed by sir William
lle.sche 1t had well-dcfned planetary disk
of a circular form which Herschel estimated to
be not less than 53s miles in diameter The
real length of the tail on the 18th of October.
was nine millions of miles. Its direction was
such, that the apparent length did not exceed
four degrees. The researches of Pref Bcssel
assign to it revolution of l7l4 years
In many respects, the comet of 1911, may be
regarded the most famous of modern times. 1t
was first detected by NJ. Flaugergues, at Viyiers,
on the 10Th of March and remained visible a
year and half, nearly twice as long as the long
est duration of any other comet. 1nthe autumn
OF lSll the comet was within the circle of per
petual apparition, and conspicuous all night
The tail was longest about the end of the first
week in October, it then extended over an arc
of twenty-five degrees, and was six degrees
broad. Sir William Herschel saw well-de-
fined planetary disk involved in a nebulosty
forming the head The disk was of pale rud-
dy color; the surrounding nebulosity. blush
green The nebulosity was upwards of one mil
lion of miles in diameter. The real length of
the train about the middle of October, exceeded
one hundred millions of miles Prof Argeland-
er calculated that it would reappear in about
three thousand years. This comet recedes from
the sun to distance more than fourteen times
that Of Neptune.
In 1919, a fine comet appeared suddenly in
the constellation Leo. Cacciatore, of Palermo,
assures us that it exhibited phases similar to
the moon, during part of its visibility, and that
the crescent was not always on the same side of
the nucleus. 1t was this comet that Arago, by
means of u polariscope, ascertained to shine by
reflected light. The circumstance of a phase.
had it itremained always on the proper side, would
have determined it.
In 1925, VI. Pons. at Marseilles. discovered a
comet that remained visible for nearly one en-
tire year. 1t was most conspicuous at the be-
ginning OF Oct, 1928, as the head was approach
ing the Southern horizon. The tail was fifteen
degrees long and divided into two brinces.-
San,inr saw the nucleus composed of three
bright poitns. The period of revolution of this
fine comet is probably not less than four thous-
and years.
The comet which made its appearance in full
daylight, near the sun, in February, 1913, is
fresh in the recollection of many. 1t presented
a splendid appearance during the first week in
March throughout the southern hemisphere
The tail covered an arc of the heavens no less
than forty degrees, and was curved at its ex-
tremty. Cndulatons similar to those recorded
in the trains of some of the great comets of past
times were generally remarked. The nucleus of
this comet is described as small, but extremely
bright, of golden hue, of the color of Venus,
or reddish, according to different Observers
The average length of the tail of this comet in
March, was 30 degrees, but at one time faint
ray was seen TO shoot out to the extent of 81
degrees. An observer in Brazil, describes the
tail as of abriant silver color, but with streak
OF bright golden hue running directly into the
head.
The perineon distance of this comet is less
than that of any recorded comet. 1t approach
ed within 10000 miles of the suns surface
The late Sears c. Walker, one of the most en-
inent American astronomers of his time, made
very elaborate calculations on this comet, and
at first was of opinion that itactually grazed the
suns surface. 1t was first seen accidentally on
the 27th of February, about noon, only about
half degree distant from the suns edge, by a
stonecutter in Milton, and also by master mari
ner at Portland, Me.-the latter of whom meas
ured its angular distance from the sun with his
sextant; probably the first time that such an
observation was ever made under such circuni-
stances 1t moved in perihelion, with the We
locity of a million and one quarter miles per
hour, and described, in little more than two
hours, one half its angular motion around the
sun. The sun, seen from the comet in per-
helion, had an angular diameter of more'than
l2O degrees. The heliocentric motion of this
comet, was retrograde, and owing to the very
untavorable position of that arc of its orbit in
which il moved while under observation, astron-
omers are not decided when it will again appear
On the I'd of June, this year, Donati discov.
cred comet in the constellation Leo Minor
which is, at this moment, prese9tingan appear
ance that will class it among the colossal one:
,fr AZ VI