New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-20
An ExTRAoRDIN4RT COMET.

,rs1-lT OF OBSERVATIONS BY DAYLIGHT Al WASH
INGTON AND NICE.
WAsHrxGroN, sept. I9-Ihe great comet reported
In this mornings papers as having been discovered
bv observers in Colorado observed at the Naval
Observatory this afternoon. II found In right
ascension IL hours 10 minutes 30 seconds and
aecinatiou north degrees and 10
minutes The comet was easily seen with
lbe naked eve, and exhibited a short
tail with a bright head of considerable extent. In
the telescope the nucleus showed as confused
mass Of bright light, indicating large comet with
plenty Of loose material Extending both sides
yer. seen bright arcs Of light presenting the APP
bearance Of a bird with outstretched wings This
Afternoon dispatch received from the Observ-
Rtorv of Paris 70 the following effect;
Tbonon', comet observed at Nice about noon
september u, 80 west of the sun. The nucleus
Sves a continuous spectrum, very brilliant and
terv much extended toward the violet. Both tail
and nucleus give the sodium lines extremely brill
lant very sharply divided, and characteristic
They seem displaced toward the red.
The spectroscopic observations reported In the
above dispatch are OF extraordinary interest. They
Indicate that this 10 the second comet that has
shown a sodium spectrum. The first was that dis
sovered this wear by Wells at the Dudley
Observatory. and observed at that institu-
lion in full daylight. The reported dis
placement of the two sodium lines toward
The red end of the spectrum is Of the highest inter
est since il indicates that the comet is now moving
toward the earth with planetary velocity. Such an
observation has never before Detu hldus III Tue Case
pf any comet.
From the position given in the above dispatch the
bonnet Is moving westward from the sun at the rate
bf five or six degrees daily. 1t Is almost cert IN
that the comet has now passed its peT1heliOn, or
point where II Is nearest the Astronomers VIII
bow be anxious TO learn If this comet is identical
with the one recently discovered in South America.
II this Identity l. proved 10 will follow that 1t has
approached very the sun-prObably as close
j. lid the great comet Of 1850. the comet which
pad the smallest perhclOn distance on record.
seyera DAYS must elapse before the particulars of
The orbit can be calculated b. astronomers and this
question De definitely settled.
The comet to-day al o'clock was degrees west
pf the suL aud II will probably have increased this
distance ~ tsunrse on the 10th TO u or IL degrees
Il viii therefore. rise somewhat before the sun,
but owing 10 the fact that II is also further south
than TIE sun, II viii not be readily seen before sun
and direction Of motion,it should become brilliant
object IN the morning sky.
o. the whole hole tbs d9 may ,od be re- re.
garded as one 81 ,0 OI me me-, m TSe oe eH,
Dne which resembles II IN It's special features OF IN
lerest is the great comet OF lo43, which, ike this
bQe was Visible TO the naked eye IN full sunlight.
BaTnard's comet was also observed al the Naval
Observatory this morning al o'clock by Professor
Frisbie It's right ascension was 2 hours "a
p.nutes. and declinauon IL degrees
appearance of telescope comet with slight central
bondensatIOn.
ROCHESTER,, n Y, Sept 19-Dr Lewis Swift
director Of the Warner Observatory, has boon re-
eeiYing messages from all parts of America, claim
ng the discovery Of a large naked-eye comet, now
Ilsbe near the To set at rest all inquiries, he
stss that II Is the same comet recently discovered
y cVuth America, moving west. IL Is not tnt
to@et OF 1912, and is not identical with any
k4oTn comet,