The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-15
Coy Coggia'S Brilliant Appearance---A
Majestic Exhibition Last Evening.
CURIOSITY OF TEE STAR GAZERS.
Some New Facts Concerning the
CCmst of 1861.

blue OF last night displayed Itself In more Drlgnt
distinctiveness, though not the same splendOr has
appeared as attended others that within the last
twenty years sped their brilliant flight within
human vision, yet interest in 1t has
been not less marked The favorable nature
of last night brought forth numbers into the
squares and open places of the city anxious to
have q good undOubted view OF this corruscent
object fiashing forward on Its illimitable course
so soon forever to be lost to sight. The house
tops any points from which La Coggta WAS WIS.,
ible were crowded. AT the different ferries, where
from the broad bosom OF the North or East River
no obstruction arose to hide that portion Of the
sky last night the most observed, the passengers
had an excellent view.
THE NUMEROUS oBsRRvAToRIEs
throughout the city were fully occupied to the
constant now OF visitors-both ladies and gen.
tlemen-anxious to secure full inspection OF the
celestial prodigy. 1t may not be that so excellent
an opportunity will again occur IN the few days
remaining OF the comets stay, and, II 1t were pos
sible Its celestial being could at all be touched by
appreciation OF it's presence, it must have been
well satisfied with the countless admiration Of last
night
It is interesting to observe how knowledge con-
THESE ECCENTRIC oRBs
Increases and how the curiosity OF the people Is
fastened on the rare visitor who now holds its
fiery court in tnenorthwest Coggias comet cannot
complain OF want attention while rushing through
space at a tremendous rate. The comet OF 1861, it
has been SurmiSed came In collision with the
earth, out as II now appears TO be well eSJaDllSheu
that Its body, like others Of its Kind is made up
OF gases through which planets beyond are
visible, its effect was of no more account than the
descent OF cloud to the earth. 1t is said tnat II
the tai OF the present meteor sweeps near the
earth meteorc showers may be expected,
aid that in any event 1t will depart from view
for interstellar space about the 22d inst. Alter
that date IL Is probable it will remain wandering
IN infinite space, where not ray of hight or heat
can reach It, ana it is possible may be absorbed by
Jupiter or some other distant planet. 1t Is about
certain it Will never again be visible to human
eye.
The Great Comet OF 1s61-A Celestial
Wanderer that Collided with the
Earth-A Grand Spectacle Suddenly
Appears in the Heavens-Sir j. Her
schel's Opinion-An Intruder on Jup-
tiers SateIlites-The Fogs Of 1883 and
1881.
Few comets created greater sensation than the
great comet of lS6l-the second OF that year. 1t
was discovered in New South Wales, on May 10,
prior to its nearest approach to the sun, which
took place June ii. Passing from the southern
hemisphere into the northern 1t suddenly
appeared in the northeastern heavens on the 30th
OF June. On the night OF the same day 1t seemed
fully as bright as a star of the first magnitude, with
a large perpendicular brush tail. Its head had the
singular formation OF three distinct parabolic en-
velopes OF which the inner was much the brightest.
A space devoid OF luminosity separated the inner.
InOSJ 1TOm Tue mluuc cuNtlOpe, eACepC dG LHe
apex, and similar event interviewed between the
middle and outer but on the left side only. Sir j.
Herschel, the distinguished astronomer, declared
that its first appearance the comet OF 1851 'far
exceeded in brightness any comet have before
observed. those of 1871 and the recent splendid
OF 1858 not excepted"
A MISTAKE AS TO IDENTITY.
The celestial wanderer was supposed at first to
be the that in 1866, caused the abdicati0n of
Charles ", and which previously appeared in 1854,
when 1t was imagined that Its mission was to an
nounce the death of Pope Urban Nv. In the same
year it looked down upon the amazed English
barons during their first efforts to secure paria-
mentary rights in the reign Of Henry III. Its ap.
pearance was also noted by the Chinese in July,
975. But it turned out to be an entirely new
meteor, and that 1t made its existence known for
the first time IN 1861. In consequence Of the light
OF the moon and the summer twilight the circum-
stances were uniavorabie to examine it closely.
However, it was every way more striking object
than the comet Of 1885, described in the HERALD of
Monday. Seen in dark sky it exceeded in mag
nificence any OF those erratic bodies that became
visible during the century. Its briiancy was such
that shadow was sensiDly projected on white
paper when its light was intercepted by well de-
fined object Two days after its appearance 1t
increased to an extraordinary degree IN bright
ness anu us DTuSlllke JUL VdStIy bWecps
ing millions of miles and
REACHING ALMOST TO THE ZENITH
at intervals The hao-like appearance of the
nucleus remained the comet OF 1861, instead OF
being hollow like half an eggshell as most Of the
comets before observed HAD been, presented the
form OF a sun filed with fireworks, and in other
respects differed exceedingly from Donati's comet
OF 1858. All the circumstances were calculated to
introduce great complications IN tue theory Of
these celestial bodies. On the 10th OF July the
comet remained most beautiful and conspicuous
object, although Its tail mad dwindled down to
very small proportions as compared with it's
length when 1t first suddenly came into sight. At
this date it equally distant from the earth and
sun. 1t soon afterward became invisible
SUPPOSED COLLISION WITH THE EARTH.
In many OF It's features the comet of 1861 was
otherwise remarkable ana wonderful The start
ling fact was announced that the earth passed
through It's tail on the evening OF June 80, and
the appearances noticed by various individuals In
regard to the color OF the sky added very much in
giving weight to the opinion. In connection with
this subject 1t appears That at the time In ques
ton, While the comet was conspicuous in the
northern heavens, there was peculiar phos-
phorescence or illumination Of the sky
which was attributed to an aurora
glare; 1t was remarked by many persons as some
thing unusual, and considerlng how near the
earth must have been that evening to the tail OF
the meteor the phenomenon was attributed to
! this proximity. The sun, though shining, gave
but feeble light The comet was plainly visible
during the sunshine. II Is related that the vicar
| VI IL pdTlsH CHuTCn tHe pulpit Chn-
dies lighted at seven O'Clock, which proves that
sensation OF darkness was ielt even while the sun
| was shining. Though ne was not aware that the
| comets tall was surrounding our globe yet he was
SO struck by the spguiarlty OF the appearance
| That he recorded in his day book the iollOwIng:-
GA singular yellow phospboreseent glare, very like
dif1used Aurora Boreals, yet, being daylight, such
aurora would scarcely be noticeable" The comet
! itsef had much more hazy appearance than at
any time after shat evening. IL was thought
by Mr. Hind, an astronomer OF ackuow edged
! ability, that the earth very probably encountered
the tail In the early part OF June 30 at any rate
1t was certainly In region which had been swept
over by the cometary matter short time pre-
vlOuSly.
SIR J. HERsCHELs DISCOVERY.
curious TACT IN relation TO the substance OF the
| comet OF 1851 was discovered by Sir J. Herschel.
! lie proved TO his satisfaction that on the night OF
July that the head and nucleus OF the wandering
star showed no signs OF polarization, and he in
| surmlaed of