The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-07-02
THE GREAT COMET.
When, Where and How The
Celestial Traveller Cam Be

when, Where and How the
Celestial Traveller Cam BE
Seen.
The great comet which Levi I.
Edwards, student Of Haverford
College, discovered on Thursday
morning last, is attracting the atten-
ton Of astronomers in all parts of
the world. Professor Prosper Henry,
of Paris, France, discovered the com
ct on Thursday morning at three
O'Clock, mean time, or several hours
before it was seen at Haverford. Its
right ascension is about eighty three
degrees, with a northern declension
Of forty-two degrees. 1t has a won
derfally luminous Nucleus and a
clearly defined envelope on the side
nearest the sun. The tail is five de-
grees long and is about eight degrees
from the sun. 1t is between Capella
and the horizon and the head makes
its appearance first The comet is
pointed toward the North Star, and
is moving almost directly along the
northern line at the rate of five deg.
every twenty four hours.
The astronomers are not agreed
whether tire comet is one that has
visited Our system before or new
conner Oh this shoal of the universe,
but they all say that it gives promise.
of becoming remarkably large and
brilliant. The astronomers are be-
stirring themselves all over the coun-
try to get look at this comet, and
the obseryatories will be busy places
as long rs it remains visible. The
astronomers have long been wishing
for a chance to get at frst-rate
comet, for many interesting questions
have arisen since they had the great
comet of 1858 and it's brilliant sue
-cessor Of 1861 in the field of their
telescopes.
The astrologers and Mother Ship
tonitcs will also be busy. Comets
have in all ages been the most eff
Gent allies Of those who make mon
ey and influence by catering to the
superstitious. The world has more
than once been terrorized by comet
and even Newton contributed to the
distrust with which the comet of
1850 was regarded. He calculated
that the comet was headed almost
straight at the sun, and it was be-
lieved then, as it is now, that if a
comet should plunge into the sun it
would heat that luminary up to such
y degree as to destroy the earth.
Newton was not wrong in his figures,
for the comet did pass very near the
sun. The comet of 1S43, however,
went yet closer. In fact, it is said
to have grazed the suns surface, and
some astronomers have assumed this
to be the cause Of certain great solar
disturbances that were subsequently,
witnessed and that made themselves
felt in the electrical condition of the
earth. The discovery that vast trains
of meteors follow in the tracks of
comets renders it all the more likely
that the fall of a comet upon the SUN
would be disastrous to the earth.
But the astronomers reassnringly as !
sert that the chance of comet |
into the sun is very slight.
They have all space to wander in,
and although they are drawn toward |
the sun when they fall within the
scope Of his attraction, the resulting |
orbit is such that they swing around |
him on a curve, and are then flung
out into space again. There is some
thing exceedingly impressive in the
thought that great comets probably |
wander from sun to sun, travellers |
the universe. Now one Wis
its us, and some millions of years
hence it may glow in the morning
and evening skies Of the worlds that
circle about Sirius or Aldebaran.-
Ne,c York SIN.