The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-05-04
ANOTHER COMET COMING.
VIII the World End whom the Now Comet
Strikes the Sun?
Erom The lNe,r York Sl,1.

I'o" Wc >teIf j ORA tSUh.
Ii the comet that was discovered by a
young astronomer in Albany last month
iulfiis half OF the promises made for it.
we may expect to behold, in May or June
a celestial spectacle such as has not been
equalled since 1858 or 1911. This comet
although some 200 100000 miles from ita
perihelion. which it will not reach for
three months, shows bright tail and q
star.like nucles. The inference is fair
that the comet is very large one, and
that when it gets into our neighborhood
it will present magnificent appearance.
Moreover, Professor Chandler's figures
show that the comet is plunging almost
straight at the sun, which it will probably
approach within 100, 900 miles. The only
other comet, in tho long list Of those
bodies whose orbits have been calculated
which approached anything like as near
to the sun as this are the comet of $40 B.
G., the comet Of 1868, the comet of 1880,
often called Newton's comet, the comet of
l843, and the comet of 1880. The last
named was observed only,in South Amer
ica and Australia and at tho Cape of
Good Hope.
Concerning the comet of $40 b. c.. Of
which frightful things arc related, and
which is said to have split in two, not
much is known, but the measurements
made in the other cases are generally to
be depended upon. In fact, it was the
nearness of the approach of the comet of
1850 which led Newton TO anticipate pos.
sible peril to the earth from the fall of n
great comet into the sun. This is not the
popular view of the danger from comets,
the fear usually being that they may
strike the earth, or produce pestilence by
mingling the substance of their tails with
our atmosphere. OF late, the other view
has been made more conspicuous, espe.
cially since DIR. Proctor's recent article on
what he calls the menRcing comet of 1880,
which he anticipates may return in 1897.
The appearance of this new comet on
the heels Of the discussion awakened by
MIR. Proctor's suggestion gives the subject
renewed interest, especially in view of
the announcement that the coming comet
is going 80 close to the sun. Unless the
calculators have made very great blum
der it will pass through the cyrona, and,
if large enough, may Craze the luminous
surface. 1t should be noticed that there
is discrepancy between the estimates OF
the perihelion distance made by Professor
Chandler, of Harvard university, and
Professor Boss, Of the Dudley Obscrva-
tory, the latter making the distance con-
siderably greater than that above given.
Both agree, however, that the approach
will be close one. The question wheth-
er the earth may not at some time be in
danger from great comet is all the more
interesting because men of science arc not
exactly in accord upon it. Mr. Proctor is
not tilQ 0nlU ,un< fhs ,t,a al
If ever the world is to be destroyed with
heat it will be when great comet plum.
gcs into the sun. Even those who think
Mr.. Proctor is mistaken in his conclusions
admit that, given q comet big enough,
and massive enough, undoubtedly its fali
upon the sun would prove disastrous to
the earth. But they say it would require
a body having mass something like that
of Jupiter to produce such effects, and
compared with Jupiter the most massive
comets ever seen are mere pigmies. Be-
sides, there seems good reason to believe
enough to the sun, be pulled to pieces
the fall being prolonged perhaps through
of heat caused by the conversion of the
SO"Sto htOttOu MOuiu Oc
over considerable period of time. Be.
sides, as Professor Young has pointed
out, if comet fell into the sun the in.
crease Of heat would be mainly used up
in producing expansion of the SUMS orb,
and would afterward be radiated out
again through a long space of years.
Another very interesting objection has
been raised 10 Mr. Proctors theory, name
tU that khraa A.
which the earth presents to the sun is
covered with deep water, such an increase
Of the sums heat as tho fall of comet
might produce would cause great in
crease of evaporation, which would use
up the extra heat, and so protect the
earth from harm. According TO this view
we are reasonably safe so long as the
oceans last and the sun does not get too
hot.
Of course the reply may be made to
these objections that, although no known
comet is great enough to cause us harm
by It's downfall upon the earth, yet we do
not know but that comets exist thousands
of times more massive than any that hu.
man eyes have ever seen, and that such a
comet may at some time pay us visit.
In fact, we have had a rather distant view
of one comet that really seemed to be.
long to an order of magnitude different
from that of ordinary comets-a sort OF
celestial whale among fishes. This was
the famous como; of 1911, which had a
head almost as big as the sun itself. But
it kept far away, its perihelion distance
being some ninety million miles. II
such comet as that should rush upon
the sun, Mr.. Proctor thinks 1t would soon
al, Hak L. l.:
nents say that ey j the downfall Of the
comet Of 1911, although it might make
tho weather uncomfortably hot for us,
would not dissolve the elements with
fervent heat" Those who may have Q
lingering suspicion Of danger can take
comfort in the fact that when this huge
comet disappeared it was travelling on q
track chat tmust have carried it uncount-
system, SO that it lie not likely to return
In thousands of yea J, if ever. That the
astronomers themselves are not much
are all very anxious to witness the prom.
ised spectacle of the downfall of a comet
In 1897 or thereabouts.
Whether the coming comets close ap.
proach to the sun will throw any light
on this interesting question of course
cannot be foretold, but all the present in.
dications are that it will pay its respects
10 the ruler of the solar system with roy.
oil splendor, presenting, perhaps, such O
scene rs was witnessed when the great
comet of 1864, which failed to return, as
expected, in 1860, spanned the heavens
with its tail. In the meantime, there is
no occasion for anybody to be alarmed
but good reason for everybody 10 rejoice
iH M liInl,r a IL