The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-07-09

THE COMET.-For some nights past, when clear,
large comet has been visible. 1t can be seen
in the northwest just after dark, about 33 degrees
above the horizon. The appearance of this comet,
at this time, predicted by astronomers last
year, and is said to be the comet of Charles the
Fifth; having a tail l3O, 900 900 miles in length.
No fears need be entertained Of collision with
this fiery visitor for if it to start in this drec
ton it would not reach US during the present or
succeeding generations. If it could strike the
Black Republican Gominions and sweep the Yam
KEGS from the face of the earth, should rejoice,
but the probability is very small for such good
results.
Comets were formerly regarded as harbingers
of famine, pestilence, war, and other dire calami-
ties In one or two instances they have excited
serious apprehension that the day of judgment was
at hand ; and that they were the appointed mes,
sengers of Divine wrath, hastng apaee to burn up
the world. 1t may be we'll, therefore, to devote a
paragraph to the question, are comets dangerous
IN 1Le Solar System? That they are not will be
evident when we consider, first, that there is
scarcely the remotest probability of collision be-
tween the earth and comet. 1t has been deter
mined, upon mathematical principles, and after
the most extended and laborious calculation, that
of 2Sl 900 900 Of chances there is only one uu-
favorable, that can produce collision between
the two bodies. The risk therefore, to which the
earth is exposed of being struck by a comet, is
like the chance one would have in lottery, where
there were 2Sl ,0OU,0O0 black balls and but one
white one; and where the white ball must be pro-
duced at the first drawing to secure prize.
In the second place, if a comet were to come in
direct collision with the earth, it is not probable
that it would be able to penetrate our at
mnsphere much less to dash the world in pieces.
Prof Olmsted remarks that in such event no!
particle of the comet would reach the earth
that the portions encountered by her would be
arrested by the atmosphere, and probably lntamed;
and that they would perhaps exhibit on more
magnificent scale than ever before observed,
the phenomena of shooting stars, or meteoric
showers The idea, therefore, that comets are
dangerous vistants to system has more sup
port from superstition than from reason or science.
Such is the extreme lightness or tenuity of CON-
etary bodies that in all probability the entire mass
of the largest of them, if condensed to solid
substance, would not amount to more than few
hundred pounds Sir Isaac Newton was OF opinion
that if the tail of the largest comet compressed
within the space of cubic inch, 1t would not then
be as dense as atmospheric air! The comet of
ITO got entangled by attraction, among the
moons Of jupiter on its way to the sun, and re-
manned near them for four months; yet it did not
sensbly affect Jupiter or his moons In this way
the orbits of comets are often entirely changed.
That they are in themselves opaque bodies and
shine oR{y bv reflection, is evident from their
sometimes exhibiting distinct phases; from their
increased brightness as they approach the sun
and from the known difference in the properties of
direct and reflected light. The idea that they
are, in reality, fiery bodies, is unquestionably