Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-27
ENCkE,S COMET.
Interesting Details of the Comet Now
Nearing the Earth.

The New York Herald publishes the following
letter from Henry NJ. Parkhurst in relation to
Encke's comet: "The comet which has been
found by Prof. Young is in some respects the
most interesting connected with the solar sys-
TEN, and for that reason, although so frequent
a visitor, it may be useful to note some facts
relating to it. When first seen, in 17S6, it was not
known to be connected with the solar system
This is true Of large proportion of the comets
which make their appearance; their orbits ex-
tend so far into space that it Is not known
whether they have visited the sun before many
centuries ago. or whether they have last come
from the neighbOrhOod of some other sun. In
1918 comet was discovered by NJ. Pons, the
orbit of which was computed by NJ. Encke and
identified with that of 1856; and from that time
to the present it has regularly returned at inter-
walls of a little over three years, and this is the
comet now visible in the great telescope Of the
Halsted observatory at Princeton. There are
about a dozen other comets of short period, but
none with period SO short as this. It's nearest
approach to the sun is at distance about one
third Of that Of the earth. Its greatest distance
from the sun is about tour times that of the
earth. which is within the orbit of the planet
Jupiter. ! have not seen any statement of the
time the comet is expected to reach its pevihe-
lion: but from the ephemerls of DR.. Backlland
should estimate it to be In the latter part OF next
March, at about which time 1t will also be near
est the earth; but it will be SO nearly between
us and the sun at that time that it will not be
conveniently observed. Next summer, after
having passed the sun. it will again be visible
in the telescope for considerable time. Pro-
lessor Young describes it as at present faint
object in their great telescope. OF course it
cannot yet be seen in ordinary telescopes. al
though l first saw this same comet, On its re-
turn ten Years ago, on the same evening when
it was first seen in the great telescope at WASH
ington; and, as it is growing rapidly brighter, it
will soon be easily visible. 1t will not, how
ever, become visible to the naked eye. Its chief
interest to astronomers lies in the tact that for
the first fifty years after its discovery its period
was shortened about four DAYS, and was sup
medium in space. Its later returns have not
confirmed that. and 1t is still an unsettled ques-
tion Just now it will be specially interesting to
observe for another reason. 1t is not yet settled
what Is the cause of the red sunsets and sky
glows which have attracted 80 much attention
Tor the last year. While many, and perhaps
most scientific, investigators attribute them 70
the volcanic dust from the great eruption Of
krakatOa, there are others who still conceive
them to be due to fnterplapetary matter. like
showers Of meteorites. The fact that the comet
is so nearly in its predicted place indicates that
it has not yet encountered any such perturbing
influences; but it is hardly yet near enough to
the sun to meet with such disturbance. During
the next six months, however, it will pass
through the very region filed with such matter,
If it exists at all, so that we may reasonably ex-
pect that theory to be either established or over
thrown by the observed motion Of Encke's
comet. It will hardly be claimed. II body SO
excessively light as q comet shall pass directly
through space filled with meteorites moving
In different direction, that its motion will be
go little affected as not to be perceptible with
the precise observations Of the present day."
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