The New York herald., 1874-06-17
Looking for the Lively Lumi-
nary in the Lynx
A DARK NIGHTS WORK
a Midnight Vigil on the College
Campus at Princeton.
How Coggia Looks and Where He
Keeps Himself.

Sn&HCEfOS, NJ ~ June lo--S A. M~
Al the whoss community, scientific and IN
scientific. viii oe Interested N the appearance OF
the new Coggia comet nextmonth, have devoted
this evening TO this latest phenomenon, with the
;nrm conviction that Il we are not engulphed In
the fiery tail the approach OF the heavenly WIS.,
utor will be greeted with general pleasure. first
called upon Professor Stephen Alexander, LL. D.,
the wen known astronomer OF Princeton College.
lie received me most cordially, answering my ring
I'm person and admitting me without ceremony to
his cosy study. The worthy Doctor was evidently
engaged In preparing treatise upon some SUD-
tect, for the moor was strewn with pamphlets and
notes. mentally congratulated myself upon find
lng him burning the midnight oil. The walls of
the room were furnished with shelving, contain
Ing several hundreds OF volumes OF rare books
pamphlets and manuscripts Taken altogether,
the room was the very picture OF a Sanctum
forum into which no one but a celestial CORE
spondent would have right to enter. Nothing
could nave been more cordial than the welcome
which the professor OF astronomy gave to the
HERALD correspondent.
TAKING AN OBSERVATION.
NO sooner had explained the object OF my mis-
sisn than the Doctor expressed his willingness to
give me all the assistance in his power. He in
formed me that the observatory OF the institution
without telescope, but that he had glass OF
. about three inches aperture through which he
would take some observations The doctor rose,
and together we went into the yard. The telescope,
which was too heavy to hold to the eye, rested
upon a support which was found already fixed up
In the yard. At this place a clear, unobstructed
view OF the northern parts OF the heavens was
had. The telescope disclosed the comet, after
some little search and glued my eye to the glass
to drag that comet from space.
'I have not greatly interested myself in the comet
COggia yet, said DR.. Alexander, 'sbecause have
preferred TO wait until 1t approaches q little
nearer 1t is coming earthward now at rapid
rate, and by the middleof next month 1t VIII be
brilliant object In the northern heavens. learn
that A c. Durier, Of London, England, has been
making some careful examinations OF this comet
through very powerful glass, and that several
careful calculations OF the elements and ephemera
have been made. have watched everything
inclined to believe that Professor Louis swift, OF
Rochester, has given as accurate description Of
ttS location as has yet been publlshed.n
HOW TO KNOW IT.
"Wnere, then, IN general way, Is Cogga to be
''rhe simplest direction, which is very unscien-
tihc, however, is to say that it is located about
midway between the horizon and the Polar star at
one IN the morning / see the Dipper and the
Great Bear mixed up with the accounts of this
comet. Now, decidedly object to this. do not
give II as my ofcial opinion, for l have had little
chance to make anything like a careful or accurate
diagnosis OF this latest case OF celestial phenome
non; but am under the impression that the comet
ts located beyond the nose and head OF the Great
Bear. The Dpper, as is well known, is in the tail
Of the Great Bear, that IL is fully twice the
length OF the handle Of the Upper from its nearest
point to the comet. The comet is, ! have reason
60 ss pa On % Tine e Is 10 IN @
tmrty-hve degrees to the eastward OF cord lall-
put It in The Cameiopard M but IN me Lynx rms
is OF course giving in 1t IN unscientifc language,
but imagine that 1t Is the wish OF the HERALD to
point out the location OF the comet COggia su that
GLIMPSE AT coGGiA.
nm Var GQf lnn ~ NOR fa1 nh
scuratlon OF the sky by a thin gauZe-like cloud.
Alter few minutes the stars came out again and
the comet was finally captured. In the centre OF
q small part OF the northern heavens, which seems
to have been sadly in need OF some bright neoua
on its way toward perihenon- 1t has the appear
ance OF a star OF the fourth magnitude nattened
out 10 that OF the fourth magnitude without in
creasng its brilhancy. To speak more by the card.
n can be best described as a very bright spot OF
neeua WIN ray ray sometnng a1H, IKE that Of the
around the heavens any clear night and
As the Doctor had said, it did not appear IN any
way necessary to find 1t by means OF the Dipper.
The Dipper Is useful for finding the Polar star, but
not at all essential for a comet. Such a comet,
TOO, as this, which can be joked about FOR more
preparation for future state. AS said, sup.
pose IT IS necessary for even comets to begin small
gradations, but 1T does strike me that il this indl
v1duai only knew OF all the telescopes that are
being trained upon 1t 1t would at once ''show It's
handn or take the back track.
TINE TABLE FOR JUNE.
Returning for q lew moments to the Doctors
study he gave the following ephemera OF this
comet Tor the month OF June. 1t Is calculated in
mean Berlin time by a Frenchman IN London,
named A. c. Duner. Why Greenwich time was
not nsed, and why Berlin mean time was used 1
don't attempt to explain. suffice 1t to say that
these calculations are regarC ed by Dr. Alexander,
OF the acknowledged heads OF science In this
land, as worthy OF the utmost confidence
R.A.
II. NJ g. Dec.
June 1875 (mGnighO. O....... ~ 90 + 69' As Il
June 1916 (midnign) ........ 20 IL + 6es 5e.l'
June 20.5 fmdnighD ........ 81 81 r zoe 9.3'
Juue A5 (mdnightl ....... As 0S 100 1879
June 2s.5 (indnigntl ........ Z 50 50 + zoe 1872
Mean Berlin time.
ft I.