Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-11-20
RIGHT AT THE EARTH.
That Comet is Coming Straight at Us at
the Rate of $50 Miles a Minute-Whas
NAV happen.

That Comet is Coming Straight at Us at
the Rate of $50 Miles a Minute-Whar
May happen.
PITTSBURG, PA. November 19.-It is
now just 60 years since Biela's comet
1t was headed then so directly for the
earth that the ignorant got panic
stricken, thought that the days Of
our planet were numbered and
saw the end Of the earth
close at hand. However, nothing very
serious happened. There was only
grand pyrotechnic display OF meteors
one November night, and the globe
rolled on as before. Since then
there have been many "comet scares,"
even down to the last decade, but
as knowledge spreads the panics are
not so general. Now. however, there is
every chance Of good round scare in
some parts before the month is out.
Astronomers who have had their eyes
constantly on the new comet, have az
last come to the conclusion that 10 is
heading directly for the earth. Prof.
Keeler and Mr.. Brashear were both at
the telescope last night and found that
the side movement of the comet was so
slight as to show it must be coming
directly toward us. This also accounts
for it's apparently small size. In reality
it may be monster, as the tail Is dl-
rectly behind the head and so hidden
from our sight as it comes squarely at
the earth. But then, says Prof. Keller
reassuringly, we are relatively so
small, and it also is so small compared
with the immensity Of space, that 1t Is
unlikely to hit us square on"
That we will come in contact with
some part Of IL and that 1t will come
closer TO us than ever comet has career
ed before, is absolutely certain. What
the result will be can only be guessed
at. If we simply pass through the tail,
astronomers only may be aware OF the
fact. If the tail is more than nebu-
lous mist, there will be a grand display
of celestial fire works about the night
OF the 2Sth OF this month. But If by
any chance the head should come d.
rectiy, then no one can predict what
might happen. The Professor says
however, that the crest OF the present
comet is not so solid as some have been
is, in fact, mere nebulosity-but
the real head may be hidden behind
the cloudy rings of fog that always pre-
cede q well developed and healthy
comet.
There is every likelihood that when
it comes closer (t is approaching at the
of $50 miles minute) it will reach a
phenomenal size, the head appearing as
a ball of fire very much bigger than a
full man. But there are Influences that
may take it out of its Orbit. Jupiter,
Mars. Venus have in the ir time been re-
sponsible for the vagaries OF several
comets, the planetary attraction throw
ing them off their course. Indeed 1t
was supposed so be r;hs influence of Ju-
plter that cauSssG than unprecedented
misL kthe sbIttiae 81 two OF Pielsis
comet, of which the present one j. now
supposed to be- one-half coming back al
most on the old road.
After all. however, everything yet is
mere speculation, except the fact that
we will come comparatively close
within a million niles--of the comet.
II we pass through tie tail I'm the day
time nothing will b. apparent Il o the
ordinary observer, &d even ini the
night time there maybe nothing phe-
nomenal. But the likeihood is that we
will have grand metoric display, rival
ing even that which occurs periodically
every thirty-eight years, the next not
being due until 1899.