The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-06
The Coming Comet,

Bielas comet, which was discovered in
| 1926, is the one about which so much
apprehension is felt as to threatened
danger of contact with the earth in
August next. But there are certain
things SO improbable that they may
safely be classed among the impossibles,
AMI among them is the result predicted ;
for, taking the facts connected with the
different appearances of this body as
premises for calculation, it is shown
that the distance between the comet
and the earth at the time their orbits
impinge is one hundred and ten millions
OF miles. The comet of Biela is also so
small that if it were really to approach
the earth the latter would have nothing
to fear. notwithstanding these proba-
bilities, and the continued statements of
eminent scientific men, the great mass
of the people the world over seem to
cling tenaciously to the idea of collision
and destruction, as if it were something
really to be desired. In Italy the idea
has obtained SO strong a hold, even
among the intelligent classes, that Pro-
fessor Donati, the world-known astrono-
mer and scientist, has felt it incumbent
upon him to give his viows to the public
i'll regard to the matter. This he has
done in a paper just issued from the
Royal Observatory of Florence, in which
he ridicules the idea that comet will
strike the earth at any time.
| No comet, large or small he declares,
is visible at the present time, though
the appearance of some at an early date
is not improbable. If so, he earnestly
ctc fhor H., A,,lo
Investigations as to their nature may be
more easily made. The comet of Biela
he believes no longer exists. From the
time of its discovery in 1926 until 1852
1t made its appearance regularly every
six years and nine months, with the ex-
ception of 1889, when it was so near the
sun as to be obscured by its brilliancy.
In 1916 it was again visible, and pre-
sented the singular appearance of being
double instead of single. In 1852 the
same popularity was noticeable, but i'll
a more marked degree. Since that year,
though astronomers have watched eager
ly for its advent, it has not bsen seen.
| Professor Donati believes, therefore, that
it has consumed itself, or ditfused its
material through celestial space, por-
tions of which have probably reached
the earth in the form of meteoric stones
and fragments.
The alarm occasioned by the appear
ance or expected appearance has long
existed, principally among the most
| ignorant and superstitious. The first
comets of which we have any definite
accout are the twin comets, described in
ancient history as contemporary with
the birth of Mithridates the Great, King
OF Pontus. These are said to have re-
mained in sight for seventy-two consecu-
tive days occupying fourth part of
the heavens and rivalling the bright
ness of the sun. The next remarkable
one on record is the comet of 1887,
which created the most intense excite
ment in England on account of its ap-
parent nearness to the earth. Many
people are reported to have died from
fright, and even the animals seem to
have shared in the general terror. In
1879 equal alarm prevailed throughout
Europe, caused by the sudden appear
ance of one of these bodies, which re-
mained in sight for nearly four months
More than hundred years before,
Tycho Brahe had offered a rational ex-
planation of their appearance and ma
ture; but although this explanation
answered well enough during the alb
sence of any cause for alarm, no sooner
did the comet approach within sight of
the earth, than the widest apprehensions
took possession of the people. Churches
We're kept open continuously, business
was neglected, and thousands believed
the end of the world to be approaching.
In 1863 a most brilliant comet appeared,
crossing the earth's orbit at distance
of only two millions of miles away. One
still more brilliant appeared in Septem-
Der, 1911, and again in 1923.