The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-07-03
Qua COMET.
About IL Comets, Their Tails and
Other Peculiarities,
Cincinnati limes-Star


at Mt. Lookout, states that he made very
interesting observation of the celestial visitor
this morning, and is of the opinion that it is
not the comet discovered by Pous in 1872,
should, if now visible, be moving south or
southeast, while this on the contrary is NOV
ing north, and at the rate Of five degrees per
day Seen through the large telescope of the
observatory it is an Object of extraordinary
Interest; the nucleus is not when so observed,
placed at the extreme front, as it appears TO
the naked eye, but perceptible distance
within, giving sort of aureole Of light for.
ward Of and surrounding the cometary mass
like an atmosphere. He this afternoon stat
cd to 1'imes>Star reporter that this comet
is possibly that Of 1907.
"Could comet, if it came too near to US,
work any harm?' reporter asked Professor
Hall.
In the opinion of astronomers it could
not. There is no possible danger. Even if
the comets tail should hit US, it would do no
harm-only treat us to fine display Of
shooting meteors. Evtn should the nucleus
approach too near to US it could do no harm.
A planet can pull comet out of its orbit.
but comet cannot disturb tho mo-, ion of q
planet"
Are comets fast travellers 2"
Very fast, and still it takes some of them
2OOO years and more to pass over their orb
its. The earth, you know, travels from
eighteen to nineteen miles second. Well,
comet if it ia q good one, travels many,
many times as fast"
Chicago Tribune.
Such names as New en-, Bailey, Delambre,
Lsplace, Brewster, and the younger Hers
chel, are among those quoted as authority
for the statement that in all cases the tail of
comet is projected directly behind the
body. In addition TO the instance above
mentioned, the comet of 1924, which had
TWO tails, may be menhosed as refutstion
OF this high-born error La this
case the tails were opposite each
other-one toward, the other opposite the
suh-hoth in line through the cen-
ire of the comet.
The tail OF the comet when such on sp-
pendsge is present, does not always assume
any liked position relative to that body's
motion, nor to the sun. The tails are some.
times of immense length, and are not uni>
totmly of the same shape. The comet Of
1880 had tail calculated to be SO 900 900
miles in length, and that of 1869 exceeded
80 600 600 miles. That of l744 had for
Iorty eight hours, no less than six tails
spread out like fan, each measuring about
1000. 900 miles.
New York World.
"There was very fine one," continued
the astronomer, "in 1913 1t almost Rrszed
the suns surface. 1t was clearly visible in
the daylight, and il almost frightened the
superstitious and credulous to death. The
Mlllerites were sure the day of gene al
wreck was at hand. 1t travelled with great
rapidlty and quickly went off into unkpuwn
space. Many learned astronomers are of
the opinion that THE comet returned last
. year anu WAS visible ir the southern hem
lspaere. a grand comet was the one known
as Donatrs comet. that visited Us IN 1858.
II had ssplendd tail, millions of miles lone:
the nucleus was large ana brilliant. Ooe
could see the head throw off punches of
gaseous matter. 1t came very near to the
e'rth-wi'hln 100000 or 10 100000 of
miles. 1t lasted several months, but was
not visible in the day time. This comet
VIII return in about 1900 years. In 1861 A
very bright comet came up from the Sou b.
put II disappeared very suddenly and lis
orbit was not we'll determined In 1874 a
comet with O very long tail, but not over
brilliant, WAS visible for a few weeks and
then disappeared. This was the last one
visible in the northern hemisphere"
Washington Post.
Prof. SINNERS description of the comet
represents the entire body of light as taking
something The shape at q psrabols.
Inc nucleus is not at the extreme end.
out perhaps degree back from the end la
the tail the light in front of the nucleus ia
very bright, but not so bright as that imme
oiately behind 1t. Furth,r down the tail
me light IS 60 transparent that stars can be
seen through it, The length of the tail il
ap3u! eight degrees or 3 900 COO miles.
IRIS Is the FIRST bright comet since the
:speefoscope las been perfected, and this
instrument, II opportunities are given, will
Throw new light on the composition of CON-
c oSs IN general: They are supposed 10 be
composed of glowing carbon gas and
various meteoric bodies, comets ard
ine'eor. beng known in some
cases to have tho same orbit. Cog
gas comet, in 1874, was first seen at Mar.
settles, France, ON April IL, and it came
near enough 10 tho world to scare a good
many people, within 100000 miles, but l.
finally disappeared ia very beautiful
shower of meteors, and has not been seen
zee. Comets vary in size from thirty
eiies IN diameter at the nucleus, to 5000.
(helr passage through the air produces in
enso heat, and The world would undoubted.
y DO scorched if tho COM. "a, within
= close proximity, Il 1871 70, passed through
me tail of n comet, tat tho ory evidence of
Inc lumlnary was III atmospheric mist. That
event occurred just twenty years ago.
Louisville Courier.Journal.
The comet Of 1880, which excited a good
zeal OF terror among the superstitious passed
very closed to the sun, end that of 1913. In
It's grand curve, is believed to have almost
touched the sums surface. as its appearance
was followed by great solar disturbances and
enect wss felt in tho atmosphere of the
earth. The present comet is said 10 be the
brightest since ths. of lS43, not except @
Inc great comet of 1863 (Dona,i's), which,
however, had logger tail A. Washington
PROFESSOR skinner ascertained tho length Of
tho tail to be 100000 miles. Tho Cam.
bridge observers have decided tina, II ia not
The comet of 1872. and IL yet too Young 10
diagnose 1t accurately. The theorv that il
the comet of 1907 is discrcdited, although
4 II Is saia to resemble that visitor in ma y
2 respects and Is moving in nearly the sam,
. Nblt. Tat comet was not expected bnck
!. one thousand years, but astronomers msg
-. ~ made come mistake 10 their Cal, ulr
:, "a May observers believe that The
q has passed It's nearest noint IN ths