The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-26
1T IS BIELA'S COMET.
Prof Very Identifies the Heaven
Nanderer-Its Intereating History.

Wsnderer-Its Interesting History.
pIrTsBURG. Nov. 25-Prof Francis Very,
O; the Allegheny observatory, has been
conducting series of observations of the
come. during the past several days, and
last night he announced that it was cold
body which shines only with reflected
light The observations of Prof. Very
rrove rositively that the movements Of
these bodies are accompanied by no me-
tene showers, and that it has not been so
narany other heavenly body as to cause
The expectation of collision. There is
iso no fear of It's coming against the
earth. Il is at present in the constellation
Of Andromeda and moving very rapidly.
Prof Very made number of drawings of
the heavenly wanderer. which will be used
in future observations, perhaps when it
ntnrns after many years. He identities it
positively as Biela's comet.
lBislas comet has an interesting history. Its
int appearance was in 1772, when Montaigne,
Limoges, France. caught several partial
Einpses of it. In 1905 II was rediscovsred, also
hffance; finally seen by the naked eye and clip
Sediments computed. In 1896 NJ. Biela, in b.
Amia, found faint comet, and established its
ksutty with those Of l772 and 1906. he found
IL! 1t had a period of little over six years,
md predicted its return to near the earth on
November q, 1892 1t was found that the comet
would pass within 10000 miles OF the earths Or
ki and considerable excitement aud fears of
we.hly demolition as the result OF a collision
aistsd In the popular mind The comet came
s,he time predicted by Bisla, but 10 serious
malts followed. It's next appearance was in
tsyuine, near the sun, and not observable by
BE naked eye. In lS45 1t again returned,
E M aStr
he comet split in halves, and before disappear
inee the parts had separated distance of 10000
niles. In 1852, when the parts were seen again,
The separation had increased to 1850 900 miles,
tnd practically two comets existed, pursuing
Nparsts orbits, where one had been before
Again, in 1859, the comet was invisible by rea-
soa Of the sunlight. but the return of 1865 was
looked forward TO with great interest TO deter
nine what changes had taken place in the thir
teen years interval. But Biela's comet did not
spear. No traces which could certainly be
Identified this comet were discovered. On
November Y there was a me.eorc shower, and,
On the strength OF this, German astronomer
hegraphed 10 Madras: "Biela touched earth on
L,A search near Theta Centauri" The receiver
o. the telegram looked directed, and saw
sNmet which could hardly have been the
nang one. There is no certain evidence that
hsss comet has been seen since 1852, but
stsS year, as November q draws near
taosaei meteors, coming from the very point
u ias eouse!l alton from which Bieias comet is
aae, ps7iiiui but not very brilliant, falls to-
wa as earth: while every sixth year, when
'as snst would in regular order reach this
Pofaoa OF space, the shower becomes more
aSasaant II the comet now being observed
saOaid % Bielas. few good observations
several Gays apart. made now. will enable as
uoaenefs to Eecompute its orbit and retrace its
4s'oEs course for the past forty years. comet
aaeonpasatrely light body, and when il APP
tsoscArs planet t is often caused TO deviate
'aeis from Its former orbit. II the planet is
- Hen's OF It the velocity will be- acceler-
s'ed ana the e,lipse of its orbit will be in
G'ssed, or IT may be thrown entirely away from
vAi sosr system, never to return. IL the planet
uenha II Its velocity will be retarded. the
''Pse essened. so that the revolution around
"e san quickenet. or, II il moved in para
~, ga gan endless c0ryel this may be transformed
H'' az e.!ipse. II Prof. Fery's statement; is cor
'aa' Tue COMETS in that part of the heavens,
&C. me constellation Andromeda, which is the
s1As'ef from which Biela ought to arrive. and
@ Sa'e Oh closest approach, November -. being
50 Is possible that the professors assertion
~A' NE comet Is Bieiss is correctl