Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-17
Tha Comet.

For some nights past, when clear, a large
comet has been visible. It can be seen in the
northwest just after dark, about 33 degrees
above the horizon. The appearance Of this
comet, at this time, was predicted by astron-
omers last year, and is said to be the comet
of Charles the Fifth; having a tail 10000
600 miles in length.
No fears need be entertained of a collision
with this fiery visitor, for if it was to start
in this direction, it would not reach US during
the present or succeeding generations. If it
could strike the Black Republican dominions
and sweep the Yankees from the face of the
earth, we should rejoice, but the PROBABILITY
is very small for such good results.
Comets were formerly regarded as harbin-
gers of famine, pestilence, war and other
dire calamltles. In one or two instances they
have excited serious apprehension that the
day OF Judgement was at hand and that
they were the appointed mesSenger s ofDivinc
wrath, hasting apace to barn up the word.
1t may be well, therefore, to devote a para
graph to the question, are comets dangerous
to the Solar System d? That they are nut,
Will be evident when we consider, first, hat
there is scarcely the remoteSt probability of
a collision between the earth and a comet
1t has been determined, upon mathematical
principles, and after the most extended and
Iaborious calculation, that of 2Sl, 900, 900 Of
chances there is on y one unfavorable, or
that can produce a collision between the t o
bodies. The risk therefore, to which the
earth is exposed of being struck by a comet,
is like the chances one would have in a lot
terry, where there Were 28l 600, 600 black
balls and but one white one ; aud where the
white ball must be produced at the first
drawing to secure a prize.
In the second place, if a comet was to come
in direct llIsi N with the earth, it is not
probable that it would DE able to even pene-
trate our afmosphe c; much less to dash the
world to pieces. Prof. Olmstead rem .rks
that in such an event not a particle of the
comet would reach the earth-that the por-
lions encountered by her would be arrested
by the atmosphere, and probably inflmed !;
: and that they would perhaps exhibit on a
! more magnificent scale than was ever befot e
observed, the phenomena of shooting stars,
or meteoric showers. The idea, therefore,
!, that comets are dangerous v~isitants to our
sys.em, has more support FROM superstition
: than from reason or science.
Such is the extreme lightness or tenuity
= of cometary bodies, that in ali prob sbilit,
the entire mass of the largest of them, if con
: densed to a solid substance, would no
amount to more than a few hundred pounds
Sir Isaac Newton was OF opInlol that it tn
tail OF the largest comet was compresse
: within the space of a cubic inch, it woul
not then be as dense as atmospheric air!-
The comet of 1870 got entanglel by at
traction, among the moons of Jupiter, on it
way to the sun, and remained near Their
is four months yet it did not senslbly affec
Jupiter or his moons. In this way the Or6i
|, Of comets are often entirely changed. Th,
they are in themselves Opaque bodies, an
shine only by reflection, is evident froi
70 their sometimes exhibiting distinct phases
Of noh ,ne,l lnciedoeu oilen'icsS as lhey az
ence in the properties Of direct and refecte
ng light. The idea that they arc, in realit
tie fiery bodies is unqucsti Jnably erroneou