The New York herald., 1874-07-02

century not more than half dozen have appeared
which have been larger than Tutte's. This comet
astronomers.
COMET OF 1854.
was nr9t discovered at Bishops Observatory.
Twickenham, England, on the 5th Of July 1854 6y
Professor J. X. Hind On the Goth IL was distinctly
visible to the naked in the constellation Taurus
and became each night moro cOnspic uous object
its approach to the earth being very rapid The real
diameter OF the nebulosiy surrounding the
nucleus was upwards OF 10000 miles. We have no
account Of this comet being seen this par. Of the
world.
known as Brorsen's, was seen at the vassar Col
lege Observatory on the evening OF the 10th OF
April, 1868. Its approximate position was right
II could be seen with an instrument OF low power,
appearing like hazy star, just skirting the north
ern border Of the beautiful group OF the Peiades'
REAPPBARASCE OF ENCKK's COMET
The superintendent OF the Naval Observatory at
1868, tnat Encke's comet was observed there that
morning by Professor Hail. 1t was near the place
predicted by Mcssrs. Becker and Won Asten. At
three A. ID. August 13 fifteen hours mean time,
the comets right ascension was CD. SON., and
declination 80 deg. 52m.
was nrst seen by Lewis swift OF Marathon. N. r.,
on the 18TH OF April 1871. II WAS reported to Pro-
who made an observation on the evening OF the
:lst beng delayed BY untavOrable weather. Then
lts spprox innate position was 3h. 3om right ascen-
sion and 46 deg. en- north declinaton. The right
asce nsfon was Increasing sn 20s, and the declina-
ton diminishing 3om. daily.
was seen In San Francisco on the evening OF the
18TH Oh June, 1872 1t appeared liz tie TO tue south
west Of the zenith, and was moving rapidly and
| somewhat irregularly. At length II disappeared
having apparently ascended out OF the atmOs he
OF the earth. The nucleus appeared TO be star O
The drst magnitude and the tail was wavy. IL was
IN sleht Tor six minutes. Tho planet Mars wa
luminous and rose-colored At the tims.
| TIE COMET HOAX or 1872
| viii be remembered as the occasion Of considera-
bic excitement among the people OF this locality.
been predicted by q French philosopher named
Plantaneur tnat the world would be burned up
and everything smashed INTO smithereens by pro-
] dglous comet that was TO create ruin and havoc
/ throughout creation But the day came and passed
without single human being being split into as
terolds or single shanty the subject OF conna-
grafton.
COMET OF 1873
was discovered at Paris on the oath Of August in
that year. 1t was aleO observed by Professor Hail.
at the WashingtOn Observatory, on the 25th Of the
same month. 1t was described 81 bright tele-
scopc object apparently approaching the sun. It's
motion was toward the southeast. This comet
was an object Of special interest, since, according
TO the calculations OF Mr.. Schulon, OF Vienna, Is
has period about the sun OF little less than six
covered at Marseilles on July 27 was the same as
that discovered at Milan, Italy, July 3.
COAEr OF 1874, NO. l.
Professor Henry, OF the Smithsonian Institution,
Warrington, received by telegraph on the morning
OF February 21, 1874, the announcement from the
Academy OF Sciences OF Vienna, OF the discovery
OF comet In right ascension, 20h AZ mln., Of
dec!ination plus "a deg. 81 min.; faint motion
southeast 2h deg.
This concludes the list Of prominent comets of
ancient and modern times, and leaves US free to
discuss the merits OF comet No. 2, 1874, which Is
now making its rapid transit through the starry
highways Of the heavens, as well as of comet No.
3, 1874, which is also beginning to put In an ap-
pearance among the heavenly bodies.