New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-01
THE WELLS COMET.

SOME COMPUTATIONS OF IT'S PRESENT AND PROS
| PECTIvE BRTLLIANCY
IRON AN oCCAsONA- CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBUSE'l
ALBANY. May 3l.-A visit Monday evening to
Dudley Observatory, where Weiss comet was DIS
covered on the morning OF March Is was franght with
much interest At its first appearance the comet looked
ike star of the tenth magnitude. Monday evening, on
comparison with neghborng star Of the fifth magni-
tude in constellation Perseus the comet was seen to
surpass brightness OF the star by about tho extent OF
half magnitude, thus rating 1t as equivalent to star
OF magnitude 4la about 175 times bright IA at its
discovery The development OF the comet has been pc
culiar as if composed OF refractory ma
| tsria which up slowly and does
not throw off vapor after the spend
thrift manner OF comets In general Thus It comes
| about that while the nucleus OF the comet Is already
nearly quite equal In brightness to that OF D0nats
great comet SIS at its best estate the tail only just
becoming visible to the naked few days VIII show
whether in approaching its perihehon the phlegmauo
material VIII burst eulgence ornot Monday even
Ing for the first tme the foggy about the head
| Indicated n condition OF violent cbullition, although,
| owing to the bright moonlight the tail could not be
much If any greater distance than heretofore
The comet is now in the constellation Perseus, and is
loving directly toward the sun about two degrees every
day 1t will be fav0rdby situated for observation
on the evening of June 2 before the rising OF the
MOON After that date it will be too near the sum- al
though doubtless 1t will be brilliant TO be seen by
daylight when its perhelon, which will occur on
June TO- as long ago calculated Residents OF equatorial
regions will avorably situated to observe the best
display of this comet since the tail Will extend d
rec ty upward from the horizon after sunset, and the
shortness Of the twilight will allow almost the entire
length OF II to be seen.
Professor Boss has Just made computation OF the
theoretical brightness and magnitude OF the comet at
different dates. which he will probably publish in full
The rule by which magnitudes gagged is obtained
somewhat arbitrarily, by raising the number 2l9 to the
power Of magnitude sought. Tins, taking the Wells
comet at the Of the discovery equivalent to star
of the tenth magnitude when its brightness Increased
2lo fold IL ranked with stars OF the ninth magnitude
Another increment OF pig times the brightness OF the
ninth ,na,nitude which would Ga times the bright
ness of tue tenth magnitude, would bring 1t up to the
eighth magnitude. aud so on The increasing brightness
Of The comet il mainly due three brst, the in
crease OF the Of light shed upon by the sun
az II approaches to him. which OF course IN ne
Inverse ratio OF the square o tue distance ana Is ce
the planetary increase being the same increment OF ght
that all planets receive on approaching the sun second
and far greater in the case OF comets Is tue hcease vi
briancy due TO the glow OF the substance OF tne GOMEZ
subjected this from the nature OF the case cannot
be computed by any known formula; tnru tue
OF sunlight reflected in consequence OF the increased Dk
of the comet due 70 Tue e1panslon ny LII 81
be computed In the abs nee OF any OF
the rate OF expansion SOW as mas 0eeh uns a
ment o TINS eoinet up " ~, I'm ainost anv other
parenty tue most refractory materials must Yield
perhe0n iIo canrs danreronsy near TO tie
glowing hydrogen flames that continually shooting
IN from suns atmosphere. Professor BOs-s com
putaton above alluded to, shows that the planetary
brightness OF Weiss comet shOuld have made II last
evening OF magnitude 90 with brightness o0.4o
times as great at discovery IA has already Deeu
said its magnitude about 4 and It's actual
brightness nearly 10 times that at The time OF dis
coyery. The theoretical magnitude aud brightness Ut
the following dates should be:
May 30 magnitude 80 brightness, 62.07.
Man 81, magnitude, "a brightness, 7O.22
June l. magnitude 81; brightness, SO52
June 10 (periheon mag'tuds, l3; brightness, 30SG7
fhe iheliO
etary increase ghtnrss alone nearly star OF the
gnitude 3, but from the increase IN bulk ana
tne OF Datcr IL expected 10 gain many
times as much In brilliaucy that IL should glow
brighter than many rsclss stars combined, and cast
behind il also agniGcent tail, the glory OF which Will
be mainiy The sunlight III which It will be merged
The comet will back again, rapidly dWlnuulnS
dnMn and VIII be seen by telescOpes for months yet