The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-29
The Comet Of 1912 visible TO the Make
IProYldencc LIZ. Ii Lnnrnal.l


The comet Is now very interesting OBJ
iect. On Sunday evening it was visible to
the naked eye, looking like q sbadowy speck
O spy-glass, or an opera-glass will show its
presence in the star-depths distinctly. As
IL speeds its flight towards the sun its ve-
locity increases, and, rs it at the same time
approaches the earth. il will soon be easily
found, and for months to come will de-
light the eyes OF many observers.
We had charming telescope view OF
our iair-hsired visitor on Sunday evening
at O'Clock; for those who wish for peep
at the erratic stranger will do well TO be
early in the field. The comet took on a
lovely aspect in the fine telescope Of the
Seagrave observatory. Ii was round,
nebulous mass, equalling the full noon in
size. A distinct and Brilliant nucleus
beamed from the centre OF the cloudy
envelope, and q shadowy tail was be-
ginning to develop and throw out its
gossamer train. A marked feature in
the view was the brightness with which
1t beamed from the dark background
OF the sky and lit up the field Of
vision. AS we looked upon the fair pic
ture our thoughts were carried back to the
time when, seyenty-one years ago, the same
celestial visitor looked down from the same
position in the sky-depths bound to the
same point OF nearest approach to the sun.
What depths OF space it must have pierced
in its travels OF nearly three quarters OF a
century; what dangers it must have sur
mounted from planetary masses in its way !:
what doughty battles it must have fought
with resisting mediums to bring IL back
on its unerring path so nearly in predicted
time! Since its first recorded appearance
nearly the whole population Of the globe
has passed away. Very few OF those who
now welcome its advent will behold its
third return in 1854.
No one can fail to be interested in the re-
appearance Of this old friend for second
visit, the only comet OF Il long period, with
the exception Of Halley's comet, that has
deigned to bes.o this mark Of attention
on terrestrial observers. Fortunately the
comet is not hard to find. A brilliant star
shines in the northwest as soon as darkness
wells the earth. This is Vega or Alpha
Lyra, and may be certainly known by two
small stars forming with it an equi-
lateral triangle, as well "a by being
the only first magnitude star in the
vicinity. About 13 degrees norta OF
Vega is a red star Of the third magnitude,
known as Gamma Draconis. Between
these two stars lies the present path OF the
comet. 1t is now not far from one third
OF the intervening distance south and lit
tie west OF Gamma. and is moving rapidly
towards Vega. The clear evenings OF the
present week will be favorable for obser-
vation, rs there will be no moon to put out
the comets faint light. The December
moon will be sadly in the way OF comet
gazers. though it may develop such size
and brightness as TO be visible in spite OF
her presence.
This comet reaches its perlhelion or
nearest point to the sun on the 25th OF JAN
uary, being then about seventy million
miles distant from the great central orb.
It will he increasing in BRIGHTNESS until
that time, and will therefore be in its best
estate during the holidays. a celestial vsi-
tor whom it will be no trouble to enter
tain. 1t is not likely that 1t will be OF great
size, or that il will unfurl tail OF astound-
ing proportions. The specially is that 1t is
making second visit, and has returned
nearly at the time computed by astrono-
mers, whose calculations for its orbit, made
seventy wears ago, were founded upon data
neither numerous nor widely distributed.
The best observers predict that 1t will be
three or four times brighter than 1t was
i'm 1912. 1t has already had one sudden
outburst, on the 23d Of September, when
It increased in brilliancy many times in
Two or three days. Though 1t has since
behaved in an exemplary manner, no one
can tell what yagary 1t will next indulge
In, nor how superb sight 1t may present
at perihelion. The spectacle will be the
more welcome IL our ancient visitor blazes
up into huge comet with tail spanning
the skies, or disintegrates into several por-
tions, of which it has shown symptoms, or
dIssolves into a shower OF meteors. 1T is
the delightful uncertainty OF comets that
causes their chief attraction