Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1882-05-10
THE COMET.
The Celestial Stranger Now Being
Observed BY Scientists.

Washington Star.
A new comet has made its appear
ance i'm the heavens. The astronomers
had no knowledge Of its coming until
it had arrived, and the entire proceed
ing is irregular in the extreme. But 4
comet is nothing if it is not irregular
1t is the Byron Of the heavens. 1t
won't conform to the established Gus.
toms of socity. 1t departs as rapidly
as it comes, and in consequence very
little is known of the graceless intel-
loper. The present comet, however, is
being observed by the astronomers
with the view Of ascertaining its pro-
bable size and orbit. A Star reporter
happening to meet Prof. Rock, of the
Naval observatory, asked him what he
knew about the comet.
Very little" responded the profes-
sor, "as yet. 1t is an unexpected comet
and new conner, or, perhaps it may
be the return of an old comet. 1t can
only be observed now by the telescope,
and sufficient data has not been OBJ.
tanned to predict as to its size and
character"
"Will it be visible TO the naked cye?"
asked the reporter for the benefit of
the young people who are about to re-
sumo their astronomical studies on the
front doorstep.
THAT depends on it's size. AS it
Dears the sun it will become visible
that is to say when it gets as near to
the sun as the earth is to the sun.
But the majority of comets make but
little show on account of their small
size. You see, when comet contains
great deal of matter it becomes a
very striking object in the heavens, for
as it nears the sun the heat vaporiZes
the substance. which spreads out to.
ward the sun in luminous forms, called
the envelopes. These, by the repulsion
Of the sun. stream away from the solar
luminary for untold distances, forming
the tail"
"Wlll this comet be large one ?"
asked the reporter.
at is impossible to tell you, as it is
too far off. 1t is gradually approach
ing"
"Is there any interest attached to
this comet?"
ats principal interest to the public" !"
replied the astronomer, "will be if it is
large enough to be visible to the naked
eye. The amateur astronomers will AL
so have the fun of finding it in the
heavens"
"Of what interest is it to astrono-
mers?" pursued the reporter.
"One point of interest is the study
of the orbits of comets in relation to
the streams of meteOrs that circle
about the sun. The great interest, how
ever, centers in the opportunity which
it will afford of studying its constitu-
tion by means of the spectroscope.
Comets afford the best means for such
a study, as they come within distance
Of the earth even less than that of the
sun. If the nature of comets is de-
termined, it will be a great step to-
ward determining the constitut on of
all bodies. The information in this re-
gard Is very meager, ON account of
there having been no good meteors
since the spectroscope was invented"
"Do the astronomers expect much
for this comet?" asked the reporter.
"No. There is no indication what
it is as yet"
Is there any hard or solid substance
in cOmets?"
THAT Is an open question as yet,'
said the astronomer. "One theory is
that a comet is composed Of incandes-
cent vapOr, while another theory main
tains that it is made up of finely
divided solid matter,-like whirlwind
OF sand, you might say,-except that