Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-24

PROBABLY there were not many persons timid
enough to fear that the new comet, which has
been 30 frequently said to be rapidly approach
ing the earth, would really come uncomfortably
close to 1t, but II there were any at all it will
undoubtedly be an agreeable relief to their sus-
pense to know that 1t has come just as near to
this planet as it ever will and Is now whizzing
along through space toward the sun-has actu-
ally passed the earth and is receding at the rate
Of nearly a million miles day in direction
north by northeast. So says Professor Sharp
less, of Haverford College, who has been observ-
ing the new conner with particular interest. He
says it reached its nearest point to the earth yes
terday-about lightweight millions OF miles.
When first discovered by Professor Wells, Of the
Albany University on March 20, it was one hum
dred and fifty millions Of miles distant from the
earth. Its orbit carries it much closer to the
sun than to the earth On June 10 it will have
arrived at It's nearest position to the SUM- calcu-
lated to be about five millions Of miles.
1t is visible now to the naked eye, being in the
constellation Cassiopeia. and at midnight is
about midway from the horizon to Polaris. 1t
weeks longer, from shortly after midnight until
the break of day. As seen through the telescope
1t has nucleus equal in brightness to star of
the seventh magnitude. It is Of unusual size,
Professor Sharpless says; how large he has not
estimated, but it whisks tail not less than half
a million miles long.
WHERE IT IS GOING.
Professor Sharpless says the comet is remark
able first, for it's exceptional size, and secondly,
because it will approach nearer to the sun than
the majority of comets have done. It is now on
It's way down to the southern hemisphere, from
which it will be best seen especially ffom South
America. When seen there it will be in its
greatest brilliancy, which naturally increases as
1t nears the sun. Unfortunately the conditions
were not SO favorable for observing this comet az
they were for the one of last summer The Pro-
lessor says astronomers have agreed upon the
TACT that this is an entirely new comet and not
the comet of 1912, whchis announced to appear
this year. That may appear later. The orbit OF
TINS one differs in too many respects for it to be
accepted az that comet Professor Sharpless
smilingly added that it Is safe to say that the
comet should not be blamed for either the ir-
regularity in the weather, OF which people have
been the victims, nor the oppressive heat.
Though In former ages comets were regarded
as responsible things and were accepted as signs
sent directly by the Deity to announce the COM
Ing OF wars or fatal disease, the degree Of terror
which they excited was propOrtiOned to the
size Of the comet or the form and length of its
train. Biela's comet in 1882 created among the
less informed classes great alarm lest it might
collide with the earth, because the astronomers
announced that On particular day part of the
earths orbit would be included in the nebulositv
stood by the general public who thought gen.
eral smash-up was imminent.
OTHER COMETS CLOSER TO THE SUN.
The principal comets which have passed
closer to the sun than this one will are those OF
1868, 1850, 1S43 and 1880. They are said to have
actually grazed the solar atmosphere or passed
through its Outermost portions. The misappre-
hension of an article by Prof. Proctor on three
OF these comets gave rise to the now oft
repeated prediction that the unfortunate inhabi-
tants of the earth will be consumed in 1897
The distinguished astronomer argued that mas
much as the orbit OF the comet of 1843 was
almost identical with that of 1868 and that the
latter's temperance was due about 1S43, they
must be one and the same, and when the comet
of 1880 was seen in the southern hemisphere it
corresponded even more closely with the comet
OF 1858 than the other did. Thereupon the theory
was formed out Of the admitted fact that the
passage IF the planet through the resisting me-
diuin of the atmosphere lessened its distance,
and hence accelerated it's velocity; that after
thirty-seven years Tin 1890 the time of revolu-
ton would be 80 much lessened at each success
sve return that ultimately the comet would
plunge into the sum- Striking the solar surface
with velocity of three hundred and fifty miles
a second, the amount Of heat produced by the
conclusion and radiated to the earth might
raise the temperature to such degree as to de-
strOy life upon this planet. The article spoken
OF was merely scientific conjecture incau-
tiously expressed.