Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-07-17
The Comet.
LETTER FROM PROF. SWIFT. THE AMERICAN
DISCOXEREE.

LETTER FROM PROF. SWIFT. THE AMERICAN
DisCovEREE.
Prof. Swift, of Rochester. gives to the
Rochester Express the following statement
OF his observations Of the Coggia comet;
The comet now visible in the northwest.
and which Is to be conspicuously 30 during
the next twenty years, has many elements
favorable to great beauty and splendOr,
among which may be mentioned its motion
towards both the sun and earth, its immense
size. the brightness of its nueleus-the
latter alone being prophetic of splendid
destiny. Unfortunately, however, the solar
twilight will interfere with Its brilliancy
just at the critical period when it will be
really the brightest. as it Is soon to Sc; IN
the northwest, where twilight at this sea-
son of the year lasts till nearly ten o'clock.
No matter how long and broad it may
spread lis flaming banner on the sky, tw-
light will rob it OF half its glory and length
of train.
The most decisive change, and the cOnse-
quence of which 1t Is now difficult to fore
see, is the bulging out OF cOmetic matter
from the head nearly toward the sun, being
inclined from it only - or 80 degrees. thus
completely destroying the parabOlic Symme-
try which from the first formation of the
tail has been one of its distinguishing char
acteristcs. Perhaps Others, with larger
instruments, "a \ ii before did 1t looked
as if there was an internal effort to push out
another tail almost opposite the tail proper.
| am anxious for another clear night which
will either confute or confirm my suspicious.
| also iancied | saw the commencement ola
process for throwing of the first envelope,
the cause Of which is one Of the darkest
mysteries in c0metary astronomy. Seven
envelopes were thrown of in succession
from D0nati comet, and II great
height. The number. extent and bTilliuncy
of these distinguished Donati's from all
Others on which reliable observations have
ever been made The head Of our comet at
its present distance from the sun is larger
than was that of the comet of lsjo, when al
the same distance 1t is still coming almost
directly towards Us at the astonishing vcloc-
ity of :, coo, 600 miles day, arriving atperi-
helion (neareSt the sum day after tomorrow.
when it will beabout O., 600 600 miles from
the sun. or Just within the orbit of Venus
1t will arrive at pcrigee (nearest the
earth) July Goth, distance Of 26.OC0, 900.
miles To-day its distance from Us Is almost |
exactly 4 ,000 ,000 miles.
The comet /, a stranger. having come from |
some other and unknown sun. Millions of |
years has 1t been coming, and now, alas /
how soon to leave L.. never to return.
am frequently asked, "Will it strike |
the earth?' | answer, mo :" but 1t Is not /
impossible that we may be enycloped in it,
tail. though under the circumstances, quite
mprobablc but ,re shall romc r,ry mar Il.
have not the time to-day 10 20 through
with the arguments for or against such
contingency happening. | hope it vii.
rave no fears OF comets, bat during the last
eighteen years that have been laborious
'Omet seeker, | have sometimes thought
hat they were afraid Of me. Authentic
history gives no account of the earth or it.
inhabitants ever being injured by comets or
heir tails II this one should conclude to
yag his playful tail and lash ps with it, lot
= hope that it may be done after the
Italian system of pcnmanship - upward
trckeS heavy downward strokes light.
l.. SWIFT