The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-10-04
Observations on the Comet.


AND TIE spots THAT WERE SEEN on THE SIX.
WASHINGTON, october 2-Another salts
factory observation Of the great comet was
made n the Naval Observatory this morn.
ng ty Professor Frisbv. who saws that
the latest observations confirm the trntb
Of The prediction that il was moving very
nearly in the track Of the comets OF ls43 and
1880. The first computations were neccs-
sarily Imperfect from the consideration that
three observations must be obtained be-
fore there are data enough 10 determine an
orbit, and a considerable amount oi time
should elapse between the observations.
while in this case that condition could not
bc supplied, as observations had 10 be taken
one day apart. Now savs Professor
Frisby. If we also consider that il takes
light q considerable time 10 come from the
comet 10 the earth, and that we do not see
these objects in their true position on that
account. and also because we are not
situated n the centre oi the earth.
we see that the problem i, quite Diff
ficulf. and especially as all these correc-
tion> depend on the distance oi the comet
from the earth, which j. necessarily In-
known when the computation j. com
mcnced. We need not, Therefore, be sur
Irised II the comet should be some dis-
tance from the computed place, and when
wc add 70 this consideration The fact that,
for simplicity. the orbit Oi comet J.
assumed 10 bc "a curve, which gcOme-
ters cali paraboia. which assumption may
he very wide OF The truth. il l. q remarka-
ble fact that il has been found very Dear il,
predicted place from the first computation
OF Il, orbil.'
There Lave not ve, been observations
enough 10 determine when il VIII return,
If :. ever doe, The dd,uliy e. deter
mining his imDoriau. element arises from
| lie con, deration that comets can usually
be seen only when uc-r 20 their pel1hcl,a
/ or nearest points 70 The sun. and there the
are, II ellipses. uarabolas, and hyperbOlas
al-ro,. coincide, any slight error II obser-
walton would apparently change The nature
Of the path. Now, all planets and comets
move round the sun In curves. called come
sections: the particular kind can only be
! deduced from long intervals OF Obserla-
tion. the elhpse being the only curve id
which body in motion round the sun can
move 80 a, 10 return.
The comet i changing in appearance
very SLOWLY. The nucleus appears 10 nave
increased in length 10 about - seconds o.
arc the tail extending in the direction OF
:be star Uvdre. 10 about two thirds oi
IL distance il j. curved and sl-hilY con-
,.o,e toward the right. terminating quite
oHrru-ly. the nucieu, i well defined hu
i,.ral-nla-. and seems 10 ZEE almost destitute
~ rbe usual comeiary halo: il i, OF almost
uniform brightness. and can hr seen
+trourb telescope well IN Tive iWLl-hl. ID
win no doubt bc very conspicuous oIlec'
.4.,r .l,a r,rc>.ut moonlight J. gone. ! ht
oor0et +, now moving from the sun VIII "
,alooity Of about 1000, 900 miles per ual'
and from the earth with velocity 81 over
a,n ll4 miles Der day. % thai any It'u oi .
I ,,.li;.io0 with either 4 these bodies J. III
.,~ssert croundlc,s. and the most 'li4lu
ore3 have no apprehen>lons OF le'f>'
1 r. th. hcnctit II astronomers ana o'htr>
,,.I., 1a..~a % know more Of The latest Oh
'',;..t;oo. Professor Fri,Ay ha> FURNISHED
- s-u-r-ir, results Of bis 0h-clN 1h>
0I catrrday morning and on AoAoA!
,.-lr,,in,- The date, are given I'D Na,Aih--
+-.,, NON Astronomical time. ana Tt' - J.
/ .,.,,.i with astronomers, Techoncd from liz
preceding mean noon; .... ...oo,, ,i,,,o
Ss,,ter5ber Washington mean 'ilii' e
-, .,a,, Il =. right ascension, ION. +oAl'
/ -. declination, g. 80 i5.4 SOUTH
'r..ol.er Washington mean tIlAe' IL
o,r, goG..: right ascension, Ion. ''lli'
I4Gc.; ct decinarion. . ~ l2'3r o.. 'Su,n, S,1 re,
prote.sor Tri>hy conducted the NU" Ivi-
,,+a,i,-a through the observatory any
rTnlajncd rT1 i the many interesting feature. o.
~, ;n.+i+utiop. The large telescope a.
,i'''' ,,r.nared for use by Professor iial d,
- -, us observed through one OF ul'
- "' Instruments. The spot' lDoIc"I
nj nj nrrsented an unusually me sl'l'!eAI
T5c onP Centre m % group wa. par,ieulary s,nes2 so2
pcuou, The'e spot ,gi upon nroie..or. I5e s at th
Cd to interest top all a. o. ioon 5aS as their presene
oDse5y 551n5a2sdd aG I'd they ha>iened to the he 3 Ie
,.onr and took copious notes IL ,trV ",i, ci
f6cr % i, favorable tomorrow ROW L., m9rniT rnmti6ued
,eyai93s ,e.nv 1l rg erSon. S visit the obseryafor
4 great nn nlao{ oi the year, and the number r,
hi ,s9 80" increased Nc by the presence Oh ID
comet.