Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-07-23
The Comets Tail.
Chances of the Earth Passing
Through 1t,

] NnanCOS VI euC IAdT III Il dSS1AS
Through 1t.
I Professor Parkhurt in the N. Y. Tribune.
Upon recurring to the origi-
nal computations Of Professor
Pierce, l found that the whole
substance of the splendid tail OF
Donati's comet early in October
must have left the head of that
comet within the last two weeks
Iof September, so that at least
10000, 900 miles of the tail has
become invisible. Here is a
question Of philosophy; The
particles of matter forming the
tail come from the head, and
must, therefore, be chemical
ly of the same elements as the
head. Then they begin to act
under a new law. While in the
head they were not acted upon
by the law of repulsion, for the
head movesind Independently of any
such law. They have taken a
new condition. chemical, electri-
cal, or otherwise (which have
made them subject to law of re-
pu's on. Subsequently they seem
to be restored to their former
condition. We do not yet
know what is the condition of
the matter in the comets tail.
We'do not even know whether
it is solid or gaseous. If the
former, a contact and friction
with the earth's atmosphere
would be likely to cause such
meteoric display as would aid
very materially in settling the
EFFECT OF COMETARY MATTER
REACHING EARTH.
1t twas formerly supposed that
if the head Of a comet, should
strike the earth it would des-
troy it. Modern discoveries
prove that even such fears have
little foundation. Less than
two years ago the earth actual
ly was struck by the head of
a comet; and probably very few
of your readers know it,and not
one of us knew it at the time.
1t had been ascertained that Ger
tain meteoric showers followed
the track of certain comets; and
Prof. A. S. Herschel suspected
that there might be such meteo-
nc showers in the track Of Bic
as comet, especially as it had |
been known to divide into two
portions and had subsequently |
disappeared entirely. He re-
1uested observers to watch es-
Decially for these meteors in the
asst week of November, 1872. |
Prof. Clinkerfues saw the show
sr, of unusual briliancy, and
it possible that it
night be visible as comet, i'm
nediately telegraphed to Pro-
essor Pogson, Madras: "Biela
ouched earth on 9th; search
lear Theta Centuri," that star
,eing nearly in the direction
oward which the meteors were
Professor Pogson
searched and found the comet,
which he saw on two successive
evenings; bnt it was so faint
hat it was not again seen. In
his instance, therefore, the
.arth passed directly through
he head of a comet which was
Ifterward seen, and the only ef-
ect was a brilliant shower of
neteors. We should hardly ex-
'sct an equal effect from passing
through the tail of comet 23,-
100000 miles from the head. +
My computations of the hyp-
,rbolic motion of the particles
# the tail have not yet reach
ID results which are worthy of /
which publication, excepting this
S peculiarbly .seasonable. Af-
er many TRIALS, l have found
hat the particles of the comets
all which will be at the prop
+ distance from the sun to
trike the earth on the day
Vhen the earth will be nearest,
Till emanate from the head and
Ommence their hyperbolic mo-
ions on 4th of July, SO that no
ther particles can possiblyreach
IS than those that start on this
ay.
IT ia something unaccOuntable