Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-09-08
Comets.
CALENDAR OF THE MOST NOTABLE
TIsTTANTs IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

CALENDAR OF THE MOST NOTABLE
EIsErANTs IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
The following list comprises the
most important comets OF tie past
ages:
When M.thrldates was born
there was a comet seen in tie
heavens Of extraordinary size.
" hen Caesar was assassinated a
comet appeared, and was visible
in Rome by day as well as by
night.
134 B. C.-Ia this year there
was SAID to be one that was nearly
as bright as the sun.
a71 3. C.-There was comet
seen this year whose tail reached
one-third ucross the heavens.
11O6 4. D.-One was seen with
small head, but its tail rivaled
the sun in brightness.
1264-The death of Pope Urban
". was heralded by a comet with
a tail 100 degrees long.
14O2-Witnessed two large COM
ets.
1456-At the time Of the cap
ture Of Constantinople by the Turks
there loomed up another SO big
and SO irightful that Pope Calixtus
II, issued a bull against it.
! 532.-Tnere was comet so
large aa1 50 bright that it was
seen in Southern Europe at noon
day.
1577-This comet was one of the
largest ever seen.
+ Large comets were also seen in
1907, 1918, 1868 and 1850.
1552-In this year there was one
that was said to be as bright as the
moon.
16sO-There was a comet with a
tail 96,0O0,O0Q miles long.
16S2-To the one that appears
; at this time the astronomer HALEY
gave his own name, after he had
proved it to be identical with the
great comets of 1881 and 1907, and
predicted its return in 1859, which
5 was fulfilled.
= Other great comets were seen IL
1744, 1869 and 1911.
5 1T7O-Tnls was an erratic wan
5 derer. When observed the a~tron
omers were astonished to find i
/, moving in an orbit having a perioc
] Of less than six years, although il
2 had never before been seen, anc
g was so bright as to be plainly visi
9 Die to the naked eye. It was frs
e brought to move into an orbi
n around the sun in consequence o
? coming within the sphere Of the at
fractions of Jupiter. It made twC
revolutions around the sun. |
returned and again fell in with Ju
/. piter, where its attractions drew i
{ SO tar out of its orbit that it ha
!, gone astray ever since.
0 1S07-This comet was discover
: ed bv Poas. at Mars eitles, Sept
r 81, 1907, and was followed fo
r more than six months.
: 1S12-This does not appear t
Q have been an especially bright one
J, and would not excite attention a
the present time, but that the OBJ
G servations show it to be moving il
!. an eclipse, with period of abou
n seventy years. Its return is there
f fore expected about this time.
i 1843 This was one of most eS
D traordinary comets OF which W
{. have any record. 1t approache
:. to within 10000 miles Of the SUI
r whirled completely around that lu
~ minarv in two hours, lost its tail i
!, its flight around the sun. aud the
:, tail and comet went off, each o
- - its own hook. and have never bee
- seen since. This phenomenon WI
~ visible all over New England
broad daylight.
1S5S-This was a perfect stunnt
Or and was known as Eonati's come
m Its period of revolution is 1875
: years. SO that those who misse
re seeing it theu will probably II,
1e have another opportunity.
Ks 1861-In this year another lare
r.. comet was visible,
IN 1ST4-This comet was visible
re the naked eye for several weeks.