Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-04

ReSH1ta of Recent observations at Z
Pennsylvania Observatory.

Communication to the Philadelphia Times.
At the Sayre observatory. in Bethlehem. the
comet has been observed whenever it was posi-
bic, and from the three positions best situated
for determining the orbit, three being necessary
for the purpose, there have been computed the
following paraboli: elements
Time of periheIion passage January. 24.571
Greenwich mean time. 1854
Longitude of node. 2joo 90.
Node to perihelion. 1872 So II.
Inclination. 74o % g..
Perihelion distance. log g.. 9S9451.
Motion direct. Referred to the mean equinox
of 1898 O.
These elements would be sufficient to estab-
fish the probable identity of the comet with that
of 1872 from the resemblance to the elements
computed at that time were other evidence
wanting.
The observations were made with the ring
micrometcr of the six-inch'equatOrial telescope
OF the Sayre Observatory on the nights OF Oct.
"a. Nov. 5. and Nov Is. The computation Of
middle place from the above elements shows a
difference in geoccntric longitude of eleven
seconds of arc and in latitude of five seconds
This is all indication of eccentricity in the orbit
From the elements an ephemeris has been COM
puted for the remainder Of the year. showing
the apparent positions of the comet among the
stars a. viewed from the earth. and consequently
the path the comet will appear to follow among
those fixed landmarks. Having crossed the
northern part of the constellation Hercules, the
comet is about entering the precincts Of Lyra
and may nGw be picked up with n small tee-
scope between the bright star Vega. or Alpha
1.yr;r. and the star Gamma Virgins. which is
about one magnitude fainter than Vega and
situated thirteen degrees nearer the pole. The
comet next passes north of VEGA, across the
constellation Iyra and enters the Milky Way on
the 10th OF December
According To computations founded upon the
above elements and the conditions under which
the comet was visible to the naked eve at it's
appearance in 1872 1t will be bright enough to
be seen without the aid of Il telescope on the
night OF December IL. This is not q matter
upon which exact predictions can be made,
however. and one must know exactly where to
look and be prepared to pick up quite a feint
object il it is as bright the calculations show.
But it will be rapidly increasing in brlliancy
and will soon thereafter be an easy object to
iind in the northwestern sky in the early even
ingS.
On December 12. if any one is disposed to
look with good pair OF opera glasses at the
region just within the Milky Way and on a
straight liGe between Alpha I.yre and Alpha
Cy"ni. half way from either. an early view of the
comet will be obtained. The comet will cross
the Milky Way. and on the Goth of Decem-
Der will be found emerging from that shining
region and entering the constellation Cygnus
and will on the 23d pass close to the third mag
nitude star Epsilon. Hence across the region
devoted to that constellation until on December
Both it enters Pegasus. passing to the west and
south OF the Well-knOwn square in Pegasus. or
course, long before that time it will be bright
enough to attract the attention of any one in the
habit Of observing the sky, and many will then
be interested in verifying for themselves the
predictions now made of it's future course
We shall not look for very brilliant comet,
like the magnificent spectacle in the eastern sky
which was the reward of the early riser little
more than year ago. since the comet. as can
be seen from the above elements, does not at
Its periheliOn approach the sun very closely
% OOO, 900 miles being its distance at that time.
on the night of January "a. But it will present
a much finerappearance than the faint nebuous
object upon which astronomers have been for
months engaged, and which at first required
trained eye to detect at all. 1t is now about
1l6,0G0O 600 miles from the earth. and this dis
lance is being diminished at the rate of l. 500 600
miles daily by the mutual movements of the
earth and its celestial neiphbOr