The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-20

OBSERVED PROM THE WASHINGTON 0BsERyA'
TORY AND AT PARIs-AN EXTRAORDINARY
PLANET.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., September 19.-The
great comet reported this morning as hav'
ing been discovered by observers in Colo.
RADIO was observed at the Naval Observatory
this afternoon. 1t was found i'm the right
ascension eleven hours nineteen minutes
and thrty-two seconds, and declination
north no degrees and ten minutes. The
comet was easily seen with the
naked eye, and exhibited a short tail
with bright head OF considerable
extent. In the telescope the nucleus
showed as a confused mass Of bright light,
indicating n large comet with plenty OF
loose material. Extending on both sides
were seen bright arcs Of light, presenting
the appearance Of bird with outstrctchcd
wings. This afternoon a dispatch was re-
ceived from the observatory OF Paris 10
the following effect: "ThollOn's comet was
observed at Nice about noon September
18th. three degrees west Of the sun. The
nucleus gives n continuous spectrum very
brilliant and very much extended towards
violet. Both tail and nucleus give sodium
lines extremely brilliant, very sharply di-
NlUfu anu tutl d'ltllcll', diA tnSo' gNNAh
displaced towards red"
The spectroscOpic observations reported
in the above dispatch are OF extraordinary
interest. They indicate that this Is the
second comet that has shown sodium spec
trurn. The first was that discovered this
wear by Wells at the Dudley Observatory,
Albany, and observed at that institution in
full daylight. The reported displacement
OF the two sodium lines toward the red end
Of the spectrum Is OF the highest interest,
since il indicates that the comet is now NOV
ing toward the earth with planetary velocity.
Such an observation has never before been
made in the case Of any comet. From the
position given in the above dispatch the
comet is moving westward from the sun ut
the rate OF five or SIX degrees daily. Ii Is
almost certain that the comet has now
passed its perihelion, or point where it j.
nearest the sun. Astronomers will now
be anxious to learn il this comet j.
identical with the one recently dis
covered in South America. II this
identity is proved it will follow that
it has approached very near the sun, prob
ably as close a. did the great comet OF 1850
the comet which had the smallest pcrihclion
distance on record. Several days must
elapse before particulars Of the orbit can
he calculated by astronomers and this ques-
ton be definitely settled.
The comet to-day at O'Clock was nine
degrees west OF the sun, and il will proba-
DIV have increased this distance by sunrise
on the 10Th 90 twelve or thirteen degrees.
Ii will therefore rise some time before the
sun. but owing to the fact that it Is also
farther south than the sun il Will not be
readily seen before sunrise. In few days,
however, with its present rate and dlrcc-
ton OF motion. it should become brilliant
object i'm the morning sky. On the whole,
this may he regarded n one OF the most
extraordinary comets OF modern times.
The only one which resembles il in is
special features OF interest Is the great
comet Of 1913, which, like this one, was
visible to the naked eye in full sunlight.
Barnard's comet, recently discovered at
Nashville, was also observed at the Naya
Observatory this morning at 1 O'Clock 10y
Professor Frisbce. It's right ascension
was seven hours and twenty-Scyen minutes
and declinaii0n twelve degrees forty-ont
minutes north. II presented the usual ap-
pcarance Of a telescope comet with slight
central condensation. An observation OIL
the same comet was taken at Table-Moun
tain station, California.