Middletown transcript., 1881-07-01
ABOUT COMETS. f.

recognize it as a long lost friend. The
astronomers at the Naval Observatory
at Washington maintain the opinion
that it is the same comet recently OBJ
served by DR.. Gould, in Buenos Ayres,
but as DR.. Gould failed to mark his
comet when he discovered it, some un-
principled astronomer may succeed in
getting it away from him.
1t is fine comet, whatever
be said about it. 1t is now
night. Its nucleus is about Oh
and miles in diameter, according VI
tronomers, and as we hayn't time to
measure it ourself, we are willing to
accept their statements. Its tail is 35,-
100000 miles long, according to the
same authority, and here again we are
willing to take an astronomers word
for want of time to do our own meas
uring, though we have an opinion Of
our own that it is not that long by eight
or ten feet. The comet is travelling
now at the rate Of three hundred thous-
and miles per day, and does not stop for
refreshments. 1t takes its tail with it,
Of course, though it is mystery to us
all how it sweeps $4,000, 1000 miles of
tail around and among so many planets
and don't knock off piece Of it. But
it probably knows its business, and its
route is all laid out so that it doesn't
have to stop and ask its neighbors for
information. 1t is going straight
through on schedule time and will not
hold up at way stations. 1t will proba-
bly, be visible for several months.
Many persons will remember the beau
tiful comet Of 1858, which caused among
some nervous people considerable con-
sternation. Itwas called Donati'
because an astronomer by the name of
Donati discovered it. The comet now
visible in the heavens is the most brill
liant that has appeared since Donati's.
Among other comets remarkable either
for great splendor or enormous real di-
mensions, may be mentioned that
known as Halley's comet, which was
last visible in 1885, and as the periodi-
city of its return has been before accu-
rately computed, and its former visits
found to be about seventy-four years
apart, its temperance may be expected
during the year 1909. Make memo
randum Of this and wait until 1909 and
see if we are not correct. The appear
ance Of this comet in 1856, Just as the
Turks had become masters of Constan-
tinople and threatened an advance into
Europe, was regarded by Christendom
with a superstitious dread, and the
prayer, "Lord save us from the devil,
the Turk and the comet,'' was added
to the Ava Maria. The celebrated
comet of 1880, which furnished Newton
with the occasion for proving that COM
cts reyolve around the sun in comic sec
tions, and that consequently, they are
retained in their orbits by the same
force as that which regulates the move
ments Of the planets, appears to have
been about the most remarkable for
brilliancy of any of which we have au-
thentic accounts. This comet is sup
posed to be identical with the one that
about the time of Cesar's
death IA BIC J, with one that was seen
in 521, and with another in the year
1106, the period of revolution being
about SIS years. 1t will probably be
around again in the year 2255, but we
shall not be here to give our readers a
description Of it, and we do not advise
to wait for it, The Middle
town and Elkton railroad may
be built by the business men of Balti-
more before that time.
In the present century, the comets
most remarkable for brilliancy have
been that of 1911, that of 1S43 and
Donati's, in 1858. There was another
in 1861, but it was not near SO brilliant
as the one now visible.
Comets, on account Of their magni-
tude, prodigious velocity and the con-
feSsed impossibility of always predict
ing their approach, have been regarded
with terror by many. Time and again
it has been predicted by professional
prophets that one Of these celestial
monsters would bear down upon us
and knock onr little world into the
middle of day-after-tomorrow, And
yet we are still here. If such collision
ever does occur it is highly probable
that the comet will come off second
best; at least we are willing to bet on
this planet. We always bet according
to our sympathy. Some astronomers
contend that already the earth has been
switched by the tail Of a comet, and
nobody was hurt though the tail lost
some of its " attenuated Yapor'' in our
atmosphere. If this is correct, and we
have no reason to doubt it, comets will
save their attenuated vapor by keep
ing their tails out of our atmosphere.
The salubrity of eometary influence is
a popular idea, particularly in Europe,
The vintage of 1871 and 1858 were ia
vorable seasons, whose produce is often
advertised as :" comet wines' Let us
hope that the comet now visible will
have favorable influence ON our corn
crop. 1t seems to have arrived little
700 late to do anything for the wheat