The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-04
OBSERVATIONS AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, July 8, 1874.

WASHINGTON, July 3, 1874.
Between the fading OF the twilight ana the rising
OF the moon tonight the Coggia comet seekers had
two hours of uninterrupted enjoyment OF the celes-
tial visitor. The majority or the citizens OF Wash
ington-yes nearly the entire mass Of the District
populatiOn-take but little interest in heavenly
bodies, especially those OF nebulous formation.
Congress Is perpetual maze, eclipsing the best
EFFORT OF astronomers, the beauty OF which consists
always in its tail-the length OF time between ses
sions-so the comet does not awaken the slightest
interest in this locality.
COGGIA THROUGH THE LENS
Not so Of the Naval Observatory. When your
correspondent, BY appointment, met Professor
Hall this evening (the scientific gentleman TO
whose tender regard these wa. ) are especially
committed), the small observatory mad been put
In order for the benefit Of the HERALD, and, once
In the observers room, the trap door excluding
the world beneath was closed and the heavens
were unveiled to our view. BY nine O'Clock His
Majesty Comet Coggia appeared. The comet
seeker, q swive-Ilke instrument. OF low
Of the nebuous stranger. The Dipper came
out by degrees, the brightness OF the Pom In
tenshed as the twilight merged IN darkness. me
thin clouds, which for time threatened to obscure
the comet dispersed, the gauzy curtain was lifted
and with denection TO the northwest OF the point
where the comet was first designate stood out
in bold relief all that was visible to the naked eye
OF Coggias discovery. 1t was with comet
seeker, Just sucn as your correspondent was per-
mttted W control curing the evening, that dill
tgent French astronomer first discovered the
luminous body now attracting world wide atten-
ton. r.
BRILL1ANCY OF THE NUCLEUS.
AS the darkness became intensified, the nucleus
became as positive almost as Jupiter or Arcturns.
measuring rom point to point about seven de-
grees BY your correspondent the length OF the
tan could be plainly traced over four degrees but
Professor Hall, with trained eye sight, could follow
the nebulous light to a point seven degrees above
Through the comet-seeker the body appeared in
verted and by q careful adjustment the nucleus
was put in the upper ned, thus giving across the
lowing Of the object 1t was well Defined like
A RIBBON OF SILVER
iorcibly reminded one OF the the strong headlight
OF lorty-ton locomotive, throwing powerful
light with n d d,rsS rays making toward the
1900, 900 miles day. Occasionally q thin, vapor.
Gus cloud, Invisible to the naked eye, would cross
in making the observation. to bring out
the beauty OF the derided visitor. When
smaller snH equatorial telescope c was pointed
at the Duceus but with less satisfaction than was
gained from the view obtained through the comet
seeker. The Professor said that would be disap-
pointed in the comets appearance through this
large glass and. after few minutes observation,
while with the right endeavored to keep my body
in q state OF equilibrium. was GLAD to return to
the swlvei gun ana let the cOlumDlad take care OF
ITSELF The effect OF the strong glasses Is to dissi
pate the comet while the nucleus does not appear
any brighter. One satisfaction, however, was the
observation Of
FIXED STARS THROUGH THR NBBULA
that were millions OF miles beyond the path OF the
comet As seen with the naked eve from the roof
OF the observatory, the form was distinctly wedge
shaped the broad end thianed OF In darkness.
AS already stated. the OoRgia comet Is moving
toward the earth over 000, 600 miles day. While
IL is over $4,000 900 miles distant on the 18th
inst. 1t Will be but little over halt That distance
The rapidty however with which II comes will
bring IT so near to twilight that It's apparent aug
mented brilliancy Will be lost this portion OF the
world. While this observation was being made
the great equatorial telescope In the new dome
was being used IN physical observations, for
which such large instruments only are useful In
observing comets. Professor Newcomb, in charge
Of this instrument, was not enthusiastic In praise
Of the observed OF all observers, but seemed TO
regard 1t as a sort OF
FOURTH OF JULY PYROTECHNIC
Toward eleven O'Clock the rising moon obscured
the glory OF the celestial traveller and ended O0-
ServatiOnS for the night.