Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1874-07-16
For the Herald
The Comet

Since the appearance of the present |
comet, which is attracting much attention
many questions have been asked in regard
to the nature of comets, and in what do
they differ from regular stars, etc. For the
benefit of many who may not have the IA
cilities of knowing their nature, etc, 1 have
investigated the subject, and will now give
your many readers the benefit of my re-
search, In no sense of the word do l claim
originality in what I have written.
Stars are luminous bodies in the heav
ems. Comets are erratic bodies belonging
to our system, which move round the sun
in very eccentric orbits, distinguished by
thin fiery tails and nebulous aspects.
The luminous point near the center or
head of the comet, whence the tail seems
to proceed. is called the nucleus, which
appears to be the densest part of the COM
ct. The tail of a comet at its first appear
ance is very short, and increases as it aP-
proaehes towards the sun. The tails of
comets occupy an immense space in tho
heaYens. The tail of the comet that ap-
peared in 1880 was estimated to be 112
millions of miles; the one in 1863, A mil
lions; that of 1744. at millions, and the
one in 1911, at one hundred millions of
miles, a space longer than the whole dis
tance between the earth and the sun; and
its breadth was calculated at about fifteen
millions of miles.
In reference to the light as appears from
the tail of the comet, Sir l. Newton sup
posed that it is thin yapor raised by the
heat of the sun from the comet. Some
suppose that the tails of comets are pOr-
tions of the suns atmosphere; others sup
pose them to be streams of electric matter.
Mr.. Blot, French philosopher, suppOses
that the tails are vapors produced by the
excessive heat of the sun, and also that
the comets are solid bodies before they
reach their perihelion, (that psint of the
orbit nearest the SUM but that they are
afterward either partly or totally converted
into vapor by the intensity of the solar
, heat.
: In ancient times, comets were generally
supposed to be meteors, or exhalations
| generated by infammable vapOrs in the
earth's atmosphere. But it is now ascer
< tanned, beyond doubt, that comets mov'
> in regions far beyond the limits of ou
atmosphere and form a portion of the SO
lar system. 1t is clearly proven that comet
/ are permanent bodies, from the fact tina
they are regular in their revolutions roun'
: the sun. The comet of 1880 is the mos
splendid which has appeared. The perio'
of its revolution were calculated at 81
> years; if this calculation be correct, it vii
not make another revolution until 2255.-
= The comet, known as Halley's, appeare
T.. in 1882; its revolution is some 76 year!
and according to DIR. Halleys prediction,
appeared again in March 1889. After z
q years it reappeared in 1885, which man
+. of us recollect seeing at the time abov
n mentioned. Thus are IN any other comet
Y mentioned, whose revolutions were mad
at the time predicted
If The appearance of comets years ago wa
ID regarded as the forerunner of disastror
Of events, such as wars, famine, pestilenc
y earthquakes, etc. But we need scarcel
Y, say that there is not the least foundatie
le for such apprehensions; for comets are e
~ cry year making their appearance to Il
astronomical observer, while both Il
! physical and the moral world is moving
p in its regular course. The Almighty h
= sent them out upon Il mission, and th'
q destination, whatever it may be, must
h. in full accordance with the bsnevolence
in Him whose "tender mercies are over
ct His works"
L. F. DRAKE.
West Lancaster.