Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-09-25
OSBORNE HAMBLETON, Pres.
o. P. MASON, Secretary.
H COMET.

The Comet which is now visible in the north
western region OF the heavens u short time after
sunset, was first discovered on the % of las, June,
by Prof. Donati, in Florence, Italy. 1t was also
discovered by Henry NJ. Parkhurst, ESQ OF Perth
Amhoy, New Jersey, June 30. A very striking
characteristic OF this COMET was, when first discov.
cred, its extremely slow motion. The great dis.
lance of the comet. and TIE direction Of its mutton,
as seen from the earth, combined to render its ap-
parent geocentric motion very small. In conse-
quence ui its slowness Of motion, its period Of visi.
bility will be very great. 1t has already been visi.
bic through a telescope nerly two months and a
half; and it will probably remain in sight for q con.
siderable length of time yet. The head, or stdr OF
the comet. appears about equal to a star of the Sec
ond magnitude and as it has not yet reached the
perihellOn THAT point nearest to the sun of its or.
bit, it will yet be considerably brighter, and pres.
ent a splendid appearance. Its tail, as viewed
with a small telescope magnisying about eight
times. was about 4 or S dogs. in length on Sunday
evening, the 18th Of September. 1t is a well
known fact. however. that the tail has q much
greater length Immediately after the perihelion
passage than at any other time and hence we may
expect that its length will be much more consider,
able than at present.
The comet now visible will pass it's perihelion-
according to the elements of Mr.. Geo. Searle. As
sistant at the Dudley Observatory-on the 18th Of
September. The ~parabolic elements of a comets
orbit are six in number, namely time of perihe.
'N' uSNh6N iHiNu VI wv hCliO 1kItu
If the ascending node, incliration of the plane of
he ecliptic, the perihelion distance. and the dircc'
ton of its motion. If the motion be in the same
direction around the sun as the motion Of the plan.
nets, il is said to be direct if in the opposition di.
rection. retrograde.
The longitude of the perihelion Of this comet is
about 80 deg, and Of the ascending node about l66
deg, The inclination is about 6S deg. The peri
helion distance is about 40, 000, 900 miles. a little
greater than the mean distance of Mercury from
the Sun. It's IN 'tion is retrogade, SO that its appa'
rent motion is rom right to left, as seen at this
time. The velocity Of the comet, when at its peri,
helion, will be about 1901 900 miles per hour. Its
distance from the earth at this time, roughly esti-
mated, is about $1,000, 900 miles. Its tail is al
least 5000 600 miles in length.
Several parabolic elements have been computed
but as these differ considerably from each other it
is thought, with much probability. that the comet
moves in an elipse Of modern ec.entricity, aud
hence that it's time Of revolution around the sun is
not very great. The elements oorrespOnded with
these Of the first comet of 1897, and with those of
1894. This will make the period Gf revolction
about 81 years. The period of CO years compref
hended between 1864 and 1897 will EN-.
brace two returns 10 it's perihelion. The
difference of half q year is within the limits of per-
turbatiOn. This will make its return, previous to
1927. in l795. If this be it's true period. its next
return may be expected about 1889 or 1890. Time
will soon determine these questions. With this
period is mean distance from the sun will be about
the eame as that of Saturn and when it is in the
aphelion greatest distance from tina sum Of its or.
bit, 1t will be about the mean distance Of Uranus.
Dawn TRowBRIpeE.
Perry City, Y, Sept. 10Th,