The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-16

that very interesting problems will bel
solved by the observations at present be-
ing made on this comet in this country
and in Europe. By the exact measurment
of the wave lengths Of the three bright
bands of its spectra its chemical compost
ton can be ascertained. From the obser-
vations already made by the spectroscope
by NJ j. R4yet, Professc rof Astronomy
at the Paris Observatory, ii has been as
,certained that in the tail there is no solid
material in sensible quantities. since by
placing the slit of the spectroscope across
The tall spectrum Of three bright bands
is seen, without trace Of continuous
spectrum, each being eparated by dark
intervals On May 10 Professor Rayet
made the first spettroscope observation.
The comet was thea three minutes in di-
ameter, and was forming a tail, The
light seen through the spectroscope gave
a continuous spectrum, from the orange
to the blue-the spectrum of solid nu
by three bright bands,
as the spectrum of gaseous nebula. This
spectrum is well recognized IN other com
,ets. but it differs from them in its dimen-
sions and in the relative bril!iancy Of the
different parts. The most essential dlff;r-
ences observed is that while the continu-
GUS spectrum OF the nucleus is, in general,
large and diffuse, in Coggia's Gomez it is
| very marrow, while the luminous bands,
insteaGo of being sharply defined on the
sides, the most refrang5le are terminated
ito '. ard the red and The violet with fine
lines a1a Ast" @tta5 bH Ea
| at Dir. Rutherford S observatory in this
city, Mr. Chapman made SEINE observa-
tions with the large telescope last evtn-
| ING, and will continue to do so while the
nucleus Of The coEet remains In sight. He
has given up his original intention ofpho-
Itographibg it, owing to the fact that il is
not likely to pass in lis orbit near any
coIspicuous stars. He found its declina-
ton to be coo 25 minutes, and its right
ascension to be 7:42:5. The condition of
the atmosphere was rather unfavorable
| foo making observations, but he said it
was evident the envelope encircling the
nucleus was enlarging, and also that The
4 tail had increased very much in length
within the past few days. 1t is at present
approaching the earth with the velocity
of 1890 miles minute.o or 1852, 600 miles
per day, and its distance from the earth's
orbit is estimated at about 100000
miles. The tail is increasing in length
at the rate of 100000 miles day. On
the 10th instant it will be nearest to us.
The disc of the comet is more planetary
than stellar, and it has a nucleus which is
very bright and we'll defined. The tail
appears to be splitting,so that il is proba-
BILE it will show two appendages very
soon. Its perihelion- distance is estimated
at about 63, 000000 miles, and its orbit
will therefore come within the orbit oil
Venus If the tail continues to increase
IN width, and not be curved too much. il
is possible it may come in contact with
the earth, Mr.. Chapman does not think
however, that there is much danger oil
such an occurrence taking place; and from
what has been already stated as to the
nature of a comets train, even though The
tail should touch our planet in passing
round the sun, it would exercise no sensi
| BILE influence in any way. The fact would
! not be known except to astronomers. The
fact would not be known except to as
tTonomers. The inclination Of it's orbi
: to the earth's orbit is about 68 80, and a.
4 it moves in parabolic curve, il is visit
ing US for the fret and the last time. II
many respects it is likely to prove more
Interesting to scientific men than any
other comet that has appeared in our eye
Il tenn.