Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-22
Comets and MeleOrs.
PROF. PRoCToRs COURSE OF AsTEoNo

PROF PRoCToRS COURSE OF ASTRONOMICAL
LECTURES.
Mr.. Proctor delivered the third of his coarse
OF lectures on Saturday evening at the AssociA.
ton Hall. The large room and galleries were
densely crowded, many gentlemen prominent
in our world of science Occupying Sc ats in from
OF the hall. The subject of the evenings dis
course, Comets and MeteOrs," was treated in
the happy, gossiping manner which makes Mr..
Proctors lectures so agreeable TO his audience
comets, said Mr.. Proctor, come from outer
space, and seem TO travel toward the sun as a
center OF attraction. They perform some wild
gyratlODs around that luminary, and are again
lost III the lnhnity of space. Their orbits are
wild and irregular. and not governed by any
known laws OF astronomy. NewtOn's comet
when first observed, was discovered TO describe
parabolas instead of the usual elliptical orbit
ascribed TO the path of the heavenly bodies
lhough extremely cratic in its course, the
genius OF Newton traced its pathway through
the immensely OF space, and predicted its re-
appearance within certain time-a prediction
which was afterwards realized and added new
Wreaths TO the fame OF Newton. In connec-
non with the appearance of this comet Mr..
Proctor said that there were facts established
which showed that in dealing with comets and
their tails we should endeavor TO realize the
influence OF the sun, exercising force on the
erratic yisitaHts incomparatively greater than
gravity. For, said he, brought that comet a
distance of 80 900 900 miles in four weeks while
the repulsive power of the sun reversed the di-
rection of the tail in four days At the point of
its orbit nearest the sun the heat must have
been %, 600 times greater than the summer heat
Il. L, n
to vapor the most solid material. Others of the
principal planets exercise controlling infiu-
ence on the wild course of the comets. Some
were discovered IN the far space, and their path
ways traced 10 the lunar system of Jupiter;
here, however, the comet be came lost, and
either was absorbed in the system of that planet
or New on at tangent beyond the range of
vision The comet of 1913 caused considerable
excitement at that time. 1t was supposed .bat
It's pathway would intersect the earth's orbit, a
colllslon seemed inevitable, ana preparations
were made to meet the catastrophe. 1t, how
ever, was drawn out of its course by the attrac-
ten OF the sun, and this small planet was SHARED
while longer. Even this small world of ours
small IN the vast system Of the planets, is being
drawn toward the sun, attracted by a powerful
u ough slow influence, and, notwithstanding
certain retarding forces to ceuuteract the
power OF the sun, we are fastening TO ward il
lmperceptibly, and will ultimately fall into it.
The tails OF comets we're then described by Mr.
Proctor, and the varied appearance which thew
present from different points of view explained
giving as an example the celebrated six-tail
comet, which, he said, had only three tails
Comets of this kind were not of that yaporv
substance usually supposed, but had material
and shadow. The subject of the meteor fall in
the months of August and November was next
explained by Mr.. Proctor, who stated that their
course, though not well defined, was still sub
ject to certain laws enabling the astronomers
TO predict the period of their visitation, and
he instanced the fact that Prof. Newton, of
Yale College, foretelling the meteoric shower
which fell in November, 1866 Meteors, he
salu, generally uavel In the paths OF comets, as
demonstrated by Herschel, from his observa-
tons of the comets OF 1882. He predicted a
large meteoric show er after the disappearance
of the comet, and his prediction was fully veri-
fed. No less than 400, 900, 900 of these strange
visitants fell upon the earth's surface in the
course of one year. The space around the sun
seemed to be filled with them. After explaining
the theory of the origin ard formation of me-
teors and exhibiting some splendid pictures of
the sun, showing the corona, spots, &C., the
lecture was brought to a conclusion amid
hearty demonstrations Of pleasure.-N. 7.
Times, lih.