The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-06-30

What Astronomers THINK OF II.

WASHINGTON, June %. Reports re-
ceived here this morning state that the
comet was distinctly seen last night by
many persons in all parts of the coun-
try. It is advancing towards the sun
very rapidly and will in a few days be
a very conspicuous object in the heav-
ems. 1t is not believed to be the comet
seen by DIR. Gould in South America,
nor is it probable that it is the comet
of 1872. Whether it is an old comet or
. new wanderer from the depths of
space astronomers are not yet able to
say.
NEW YORK, June pa reporter of
the Tribune called on Prof. Draper last
night at his house at Dodd's Ferry, on
the Hudson, to- learn how, the comet
might be expected to behave. Ia . Com
siderable confusion has arisen, said
the Professor, Z" from the discovery 20
nearly at one. time of two differens y
comets. The comet discovered by DR.
B. A. Gould at the National Obserya-
tory, Buenos Ayres, is entirely distinct
from the one just announced by differ
ent observers in this country. The
comet visible in South America, of
course, could no more be seen here at
the same time than the Southern Cross;
the two celestial hemispheres are as
different as the terrestrial"
=" Is the comet just observed in the
United States new one or an old One?"
asked the reporter. "'>
"That is hard to say as yet" was
the reply. I consider it of little con-
sequence. however, whether the comet
is new one or an old one. Its interest
to me is two fold /; first, the possibility
that it may be photographed, and Sec
ondIy, the facilities which it affords
for spectrum analysis. No comet has
ever been photographed, but have
apparatus ready for the attempt to-
night have already succeeded in
photographing the nebula of Orion,
which no one ever did before nor in
deed after me, and tonight hope to
get the first impression of the comet.
l like to get dig at those fellows across
the water, you see. The. tail of this
comet is very voluminous, thus increas-
ing the facilities for obtaining spec
trum analysis. .sp-rr. a..f .-,,.i -.
"Is the comet to destroy the world
this year?" .r-.s-..... f-
"a comet is of such subtle consist
ency that it would probably be dissi-
pated by the atmosphere before it
reached the earth. The nucleus might
possibly make little splash where it
struck, but there is not the faintest
danger 10 be apprehended. Mother
ShiptOn doubtless selected 1881 at ram
dom. 1t is the opinion Of physicists
that the matter of which the earth is
composed is eternal t'.i fi t"'.a 1
The sky ut ten this morning was
clear. Professor Draper's experiments,
which are dependent on the
weather, must have stood a fair chance
of success. ,'.,. -'t t. .,.....s F..
" f-..st.sSIzE AND nIsrANcr .., .t..tiJu 4
J. BosToN, June 25.-The comet con-
tinues to be the center of attraction,
most people are disappointed
that it does not grow brighter. The
tonight at the Harvard
University was very successful. Since
the same hour last night it has receded
from the earth four degrees. Ut ap-i
peared to be about 90 GOO, 900 miles
from the sun and %, ,OOO, 900 miles from
the earth. The dimensions computed
by the astronomers, which show the
of the neucleus to he l,OU
miles, the diameter of the coma IL, 900
miles aud the length of the tail 1000
miles, leave no doubt in their minds
that it is the comet of 1907. 4u
1--WE of Them. II.
EVANSVILLE, IND, June pa Sec
Ond comet appeared in the northwest
tonight at dark. 1t is about the same
size as the comet which has been OBJ
served for several mornings past in the
just before sunrise, but has
a tail of greater length. It was OBJ
served by some last evening at the
same hour . ..-