The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-02-01
The Lost Comet Found.
From the London News


One of the most remarkable astronom-
zeal events which has appeared for many
years has Just been announced. 1t is
altogether unprecedented in the annals of
science. Our readers will remember that
the splendid shower of meteors which fell
on November q. 1872, was ascribed in
our columns to the lost comet named after
Biela. Very soon after this the opinion
first announced we believe, in our col
umns-was confirmed In several independ-
ent quarters; and at the last meeting of
the Royal Astronomical Society, MI.
Hind, Superintendent of the Nautical
Almanac, indicated how closely the phe-
nomena of that wonderful shower accorded
with the theory that we were passing
| through the meteoric train of Biela's
comet when the shower occurred. But a
continental astronomer did more than that
The idea suggested itself to him that the
earth had passed through the train of the
comet; the actual track pursued by the
comet was indicated Ohough after a fash
ion hitherto unknown in astronomical
practice). A new method Of observing
comets, truly, that astronomers should be
actually whirled by the earth through the
tain of a comet which had frassed that
way several weeks before? But the
astronomer, k!inkerfues, acted on his idea,
calculated where the comet must be, and
sent telegraph to Mr.. Pogson, the gov
eminent astronomer at Madras, containing
tie following startling announcement !;
Biela touche earth on the 9th search
near Theta Centaurin For the comet had
gone southward, and according to calcula
tons was IN a part of the star-sphere
which only just rises above the horizon
(and that 1T an hour, in November and
December, when the stars cannot be seem
So the message had to be sent to a south
observatory, where the glories of the
Centaur, with his gemmed feet upon the
splendid Southern Cross, rise high above
the horizon. Hogson received the tele-
gram lii due course, and on the first clear
morning looked out for the comet near the
left shoulder Of the Man-horse. The time
for tie search was short, for in December
the Centaur does not rise at Madras until
near sunrise. And the weather was un.
favorable. For two mornings running
Pogson saw nothing. But " on tho third
attempt | had better llck," he writes to
the astronomer royal. Just about quar-.
ter past five q blue space in the heavens
enabled him to find Biela, and in four
minutes ESQ great is the delicacy of modern
telescope observation Pogson had found
that the comet was moving, in other words
that the object was not one Of those star
cloudlets which leck the star-depths, but
remain unmoving and unchanging for
centuries. We may venture to quote
Pogson's words as to his recognition of
tie comets motion, for though technical
they have an amusing sound. He says:
" Though ] could get onl y four compari-
sons with an anonymous star ran
"anonymous star"-"the comet had moved
over such and such a distance in four
minutes, and that settled its being the
right objects
The comet still presented circular
aspect, with diameter more than half as
large again as on the former day "a
bright nucleus :" and this time faint but
distinct tail, about as long as fourth
part of the moons apparent diameter, and
spreading. Whether. the companion comet
was there or not, Mr.. Pogson had no time
to tell daylight came on with rapid
strides, and the next morning clouds and
rain had returned. We may further hear
from Mr.. Pogson by the next Indian mail,
however.