Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-24
Changes in the Comet.

TIE ECCENTRICITIEs RECENTLY OBSERVED IN TIN
PoNs-BROoKs CONET-wHAT has BEEN sRKN BIZ
WASHINGTON oBsERvERs-A TALK WITH THE sC1KN-
lists AT THE OBSERVATORY.
The Pons-Brooks comet which reappeared In
September last, after an absence Of seventy-one
years, has been subject Of great Interest to as
tronomers since that time. They never weary OF
making observations, calculations and drawings OF
II. ana 1ntently watching every minute change 1t
presents in its course toward the sun. It will reach
the nearest point to the sun on the 25th OF January
when 1t Will be seventy million miles dis
tant and stxty-eight million from the earth.
II was nearest to the earth on the 9Th instant
nlty-three million miles distant. Astronomers
throughout the country keep their telescopes fixed
on the strange visitor night after night to detect
the slightest change In 1t. Every now and then
the news is flashed over the telegraph wire that
some professor in certain observatory has discov-
cred that the comet has undergone certain changes
the general public is seized with avidity by scien-
tlStS, who compare notes and make observations
acc4rdihSiy Only yesterday the papers Informed
versity az Nashville discovered that on sunday
night the nucleus was surrounded by a
I Mars t envelope, and numerous dark riffs
On the following night the tail had separated into
three distinct branches. showing dark sky between
BACK CT the nucleus. With this bit of news in mil
STAR reporter visited the naval observatory this
morning 1or the purpose OF learning If any similar
changes had been noted there by the corps OF
astronomers who allow but very little that occurs
LII the heavens to escape their observation.
WHAT CAPT. SAMSON KNOWS ABOUT 1T.
Capt. Samson, upon being interrogated upon the
subject, replied Il have not observed all the
changes you speak Of but it Is not at all unlikely
That such have occurred. You see the repulsive
iorce OF the sun upon the comet In its approaching
journey is liable to have very curious effects The
envelope about the nucleus, which Prof Barnard
speaks OF, have noticed for month or more, but
Iilat Is not at all unnatural. On the 18th day OF
JANUARY noticed that the envelope was very well
DEFINED end thar the nucleus was more condensed
ti'tll at any previous time
See here said the officer, producing sketch of
itS appearance at that time that he had made,
"the envelope seemed to be produced by two fam
ward toward each other. Their outer edges met,
leaving dark elliptcal space on either side OF the
nucleus. On the 18th Of January observed that it
had undergone considerable change. By this
sketch producing a second One), you can see that
the inner envelope had entirely lost its sharp out
line. and the two fan-shaped ernanations had COM
olned, having the appearance OF one large
opened fan. The tail OF the comet is very
apt to undergo transformations also. Be-
tween the 9th and 2Sth of December a very
marked Increase in its length occurred. on the
latter date, for onethir Of its length, the tail was
broad ana 1tlr!y uniform in brightness. From the
middle OF the broad portion issued two long. bright
st,eaners, one being longer and brighter than the
other. Such changes are produced, we suppose. 10y
The repulSVe force OF the sun, but no special sig
nI1lcance Is attached to them"
CHANGES OBSERVED EY PROF. wINLOCK.
TIE STAR man next called upon Prof. Ninlock
who. he learned. had made q very thorough study
OF the comet. and had recently made some very ac-
curate observations OF 1t. eyes noticed some
changes very similar to those you speak Of" said
he in answer TO the reporters questions. "On
Sunday night it appeared to BE- very light
On the preceding side, and this brightness suddenly
Shifted over To the other side. and / observed GU
riouS illumination OF the head and coma. not unlike
the pusatiOns OF the aurora. The puSation OF light
that Prof. Barnard observed was probably not in
the same location as that speak OF. We watch
or
"Wheh this comet appeared before. In 1872 said
brother astronomer who stood near, "conpara-
tlveiy itte was learned OF It, and from the incon.
piete observations made then its present appear
ance could not be predicted within sev.
eral years 1t has been Very thOrous, y
studied this time. though. that as much as pos
sibe might be learned about II and It's movements
The reporter suddenly remembered that Observa.
tory time was Slow, and realized that he could de
vote no more time to the study of astronomy
Thanking the Obging Scanner, OF the heavens fol
their Kindness, he took his departure