The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-07-06

FACTS AEouT THE CoMET.-The comet is
estimated at the Naval Observatory TO be
about thirty million miles from the earth.
Its nucleus is seven hundred miles in dia-
meter and the enyelop about the nucleus
two hundred thousand miles in diameter
The tail is calculated TO be five million
miles in length. The fact that its or bit
lies within the orbit of the earth explains
the apparent paradox of its receding from
the earth while approaching the sun. On
the 10th of June last it came nearest the
earth, being then but ten million miles
away, and some astronomers here think
it probable that the earth then passed
through the tail of the comet.
The distinguished astronomer, Prof J. \.
Stockwell, of the Case school of applied
science of this city, makes the following
statement of his observations of the comet: !:
'0n the evening of June 2fth, 18th and
Goth had the good fortune to get observa-
tions Of its position with sufficient precision
to enable me to determine approximately
its path through space. The elements of its
orbits derived from these observations are
very similar to the elements of comet
which appeared in 1907. and render it some
what probable it may be the return of that
comet. We cannot, however, pronounce
with certainty on that point till observations
extending over much larger period have
been made and carefully discussed. If we
trace the path of the comet back to June
first we find it then had a right ascension
of about five hours and that its deelination
was nearly forty degrees south. In this po-
sition it could be well observed on the
Southern hemisphere, is very probably the
same comet observed by DR.. Gould, at Cor
doom, in the Argentine Republic, June list.
Its distance from the earth was then II ,000,
600 miles. From that point it Travelled di
rectly north and passed little westward of
the sun June 18th, at distance of p, 100000
miles from the earth. 1t reached its perihe-
lion June 23d, when it was about 72,000,0O0
miles from the sun and 23,000000 from the
earth. June 2sth il was 100000 miles
from the earth and receding at the rate of
SOC. 900 miles daily. July 10th it will be
within about ten degrees of the north star,
and the distance will be more than 50,000,-
600 miles from the earth. The dimensions
of this comet are very great. The diameter
of portion of the head cannot be less than
10000 miles, while the nebulosity surround
ing IT cannot be less than three times rs
great The length of the tail must exceed
G. .000. 600 miles The comet has been in our
skies during month past. and it is proper
to inquird why it was not seen before. Ac-
cording to our computation it came from
the Southern hemisphere almost ON line
with the sun, so il rose above the horizon in
the east after sunrise and sank below the
horizon in the west before sunset. II was
therefore above our horizon only by day
light until after June goth, at which time it
was SO near the sun that !. was enveloped in
the twilight while above the horizon, but
its rapid motion northward carried it in 3
days so far from the sun that it remained
above our horizon until the disappearance
of twilight, and in the meantime had pass
ca through us pcilheiioii anu aPPS<iSo - -
fully developed comet of magnificent di-
mensions when first discovered in the north
crn hemisphere. 1t is and las been growing
rapidly fainter since it was first difcovered
and will continue to do SO until its final
disappearance. 1t will probably disappear
to the naked eye within couple of weeks,
but it is probable it can be followed with a
telescope during number of months