Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-07-09
The Genet.


The big comet which made its appeaance
so suddenly couple of days ago was
watched and its position measured yckter-
day morning through the big telescope at
the Dearborn Observatory. The length OF
the comet and tail measured almost precise-
ly eight and a half degrees, with a fewsigns
OF sreamer light extending little further,
but not forming definite tail beyond the
limit named. Some Of the published esti-
mates OF length, made by the parties who
first saw the comet, were much greater than
this. 1t appears probable that the tail was
really longer on Wednesday morning than
yesterday; as it is so described by gentle
man who saw it on both days. AT twenty
four minutes past three O'Clock the decina-
lion was forty-six degrees forty eight min
utes north, and the right ascension five
hours and thirty-siX minutes, withip few
seconds. lke
Tho comet is travelling at the rate Of about
i've degrees northward, ~ minute' of ttlno
eastward, per day. The angular diameter
OF the nucleus was 81 seconds Of arc, and
the distance from its center to the apparent
top Of the envelope was 76 seconds Of arc.
Day before yesterday it was mere matter
Of guess that this newly discovered comet
was Identical with the comet OF 1872, which
was discovered by Pons in July, passed its
perihelion in September, and Was computed
by Encke to have a period of seventy and
seven-tenths years, which would bring it
around again in the early part OF 1888. 1t is
well-known fact, however, that the meas
ures OF position OF u comet, moving in a
very elongated orbit, can scarcely be
depended upon to give result much nearer
than this, especially if the perturbing attrac-
tions OF the planets # the solar system are
not taken into the account. The comet Of
1872, for instance, has swung out into space
at a distance from the sun fifteen times
greater than that of the earth, which carried
it considerably beyond the orbit of Saturn,
and the attracting power Of the giant masses
| OF the solar system, 10 say nothing of the
hundreds OF asteroids which have been dis
covered since Encke made his calculation,
are quite sufficient 10 cause such difference
! in the result, If the comet passed near some
OF them.
| Making due allowance for this, the motion
Of the comet, rs so far observed, is partly
reconcilabe with that Of ths comet Of 1872.
| IT is travelling in, approximately, the same
plane, but the position OF the point Of peri
helion passage in the computed orbit does
not appear TO agree with that Of the pres
ent comet. The measures taken yester-
| day have been collated by the Tribune as
trOnomer, and he has decided the follow
ing as approximate statements OF magnl-
tude-in terms with which the average read
er is more familiar than with degrees and
minutes
The distance Of the comet from the earth
| yesterday morning was 10000, 900 miles; the
diameter of the nucleus, 1,U0O miles; the
shortest diameter Of the comet, measured
through the nucleus, $1,000 miles; and the
length of the tail, 4,600,0jO miles.
The comet would appear to have already
passed (nearly) between the earth and the
sun; and the shortening OF the tail, above
referred to, might be supposed to indicate
that it has passed its periheion some days
ago. The latter, however, does not rest or
sufficient data as yet. 1t is well known thai
st least three observations, at moderate in
teryals OF time, must be made of come
before the elements OF its orbit can be de-
termined by its c0mputers. Hence othel
observations, besides those made yesterday
will be required to establish the leadins
facts Of the comets movements. The re
| qU1reu measures VIII Uc luuuc AZ the Dear
born Observatory and at numerous oihe
places, weather permitting; and the come
is rapidly moving into more favorable par
OF the heavens for measuring than that II
which it has hitherto been seen il
the United States. As above noted th
comet is rapidly moving northward. Th
degrees of Yesterdays motion carried it 81
far north that it was above the horizon dur
ing the whole Of last night, instead Of beinl
about four hours below, as on the preyiou
night. 1t Will be above the horizon In
whole OF to- morrow night, passing the low
est point due north about twenty minute
past eleven O'Clock, and will b. visible, witt
a clear sky, from dark till twenty minute
past eleven to the west Of north and from
twenty minutes past eleven till daylight t.
the east Of north. just how long it vii
continue visible cannot 1T present be told
but it will undoubtedly be a brilliant objec
in the evening sky for several days, and pos
sibly weeks, hence. The line Of reasonin
adopted in regard to its present distance
leads, however, TO the conclusion that it
decreasing in bliliancy..
1t may be interesting to know that tn
length OF the tail yesterday morning wa
four times the greatest observed length 9
tail carried by the comet of 1872. That
however, is no proof that the two are No
identical, as the apparent length OF tail dc
pends upon the distance from the sun whc
seen, and also, to very large extent, upo
its distance at the same lime from the oh
server, who watches it from the surface {
the eyer-moying earth.-Chieago 1rl6m
June 70. tt.