The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-01-11
All About a Comet.

A new correspondent, who withholds his name,
sends us the following, all about a comet, which
Is TO make its appearance this month, according
to the DeUOnshire Observer. After a little con-
sIderate fattery of ourselves and a gentle patting
OF US on the back, Our, new correspondent says
he Is of a literary turn OF mind, Che might have
added, quizzical, also) and proposes to OCCASION
ally favor us with his lucubrations. Send them
along; but we beg that you will refrain from
meddling with such airy nothings as the comets,
and devote your talents to sublunary affairs.
"The great comet Of Waller, whose return this
year was predicted as early as 1884, is now visible
through the great reflector of Lord Ross, and con-
siderable excitement is already beginning to pervade
the scientific world in the investigation Of this i'm
mense and wonderful body. Among those who have
for many years been engaged in calculating the orbit
Of this comet and its influence upon the planets of
our system, are Mons. Nungessor Of Paris, and Sir
John Winter, assistant director of the Greenwich
Observatory, both men of extended reputation. The
result Of their independent calculations are almost
entirely coincident, although differing as to their
estimates of its density, and the consequences which
will accrue to the earth from the approach Of this
eccentric visitor. That the approach of the comet
win be so near on the Dist Of March, as to turn
night into day, both are agreed. The French
philosopher, believing in the density of these bodies.
asserts that it is not only possible, but very probable,
that the great attraction of tie comet will SO to retard
the progress of the earth In her orbit, as to bring !
about q collision, and computes that in the absence
OF this event, the earth must necessarily be drawn
by the influence Of this immense body, at least three
hundred thousand miles, from and in a direction at
angles with its orbit = - 4 IA
"The comet being in its aphelion, it win be travel
ing most rapidly At the time itSoEertakes the earth.
Its velocity when nearest the earth will be at the
rate Of three millions Of miles an hour. The conse.
quences Of SO tremendous and so sudden a propulsion
to the earth, and its inhabitants, can only be i'm
Aglned. The body, or nucleus, is estimated to be q
sPhere whose diameter is forty. thousand miles
equal TO I'VE times thatof the earth ; and the tail
Two millions of miles long.
"Its position in the heavens on the 18th Of
January (When it will be first visible to the naked
will be near Jupiter. From this time until the
of March it will rapidly -increass inssize and
when it viii either wane or collide with
the earth. It might be well, however, 70 calm tb
fears of the nOn-scienrifc reader, by AMENDING
brief of the criticisms of Sir John Winter. reyard;,~
The conclusions drawn by Mons. NunOessor. mil
ished IN the Greenwich Chronicle of Octoher 3Oth
1879. OF which the following is the substance .2M-
Winter says that although this comet will develon =
self to such a degree as to inspire terror, in .,s Il
minds Of the i~literate, he anticipates no such effects I,
from its visit as are predicted by his brother as
tronomer.
although ksays Mr.. winter) the orbit of the
earth win be intersected by it, and it viii occupy the !
spot, that only three hours before, i'll ]
have been occupied by the earth yet in that seem /
Ingly short space Of time, the earth viii have travel ed !
0nWard'over three hundred thousand miles, at whsca 5
Instance though the comet may appear Of imme &c
magnitude, the effect, if any, from q body of j
little density, cannot more than temporarily a6ect =
The seasons. EI-ga /
With great Difference to NJ. Nungessor az
Mathematician Il must say he does not appear % pro- :
ound IN physics or meteoroogy.'