The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-22
THE COMET.

nuNe uoeu uuNo VI ~ Unu tnO IuOss
speculations have been INDUCED In concern
Ing its identity and its probable future rela-
tions to the earth. Tho opinion has been very
generally entertained that 1t is Biela's comet
the reasons for that belief being that Biela's
comet. II still in existence. Is now due to np-
pear. and that the place OF the strange oblect
In the sky Is very near to that which Biela
comet should occupy at this time. But
owing to the fact that tho comet
has apparently been approaching the
earth head foremost no trustworthy observa-
tons have been obtanablo Ms to Its exact
course through space. and so there has ut no
time been any positive proof TINT 1t is Bielas
comet. Against tho theory OF its identity with
Bela's is the known fuct that that comet was
broken UP many years ago and apparently us
sipated or scattered along it's orbit in the form
OF clouds OF meteorites. 1t is very difhcuit TO
understand how such scattered material couid
be reassem BLEED In tho form of a comet, because
the fate OF ell comets appears to be to undergo
disintegration as they continue to revoive
around the sun. and 1t has been thought that
the final fate OF every comet was to become
ring of meteoric PARTICLES revolving about the
centre OF the solar system.
The most recent observations have tended
to throw some doubt upon the identity OF the
strange comet with Bieln's. All the state
ments that have been made BY various as
tronomers concerning tho distance OF the
comet. its probable course through the heav-
ems. and its approach to tho earth. have been
based upon the supposition that 1t Is Biela's.
II 1t is not Biela's. then those statements 60
for nnught and it must be confessed that we
know very little about either the distance the
magnitude. or the future career OF this strange
visitor from outer space Instead OF being
only few millions OF miles distant 1t may
la h,,r 1T fIno 81
Instead Of being only 10000 miles In diameter
It may be 800. 600 or 100000 miles: and In
stead OF having IN Insignificant nucleus 1t may
have comparatively large and massive one.
But II. as some OF tho later observations
indicate. it Is not approaching tho earth. as
has generally been supposed. but ts perhaps.
receding from it. then 1t is extremely difficult
to understand why it hns not been seen before.
1t was discovered on Nov. g. and was at that
time faint object II at all visible to the naked
eye. But II it is a comet that is recedinR from
the earth. then it should have been visible for
a month or two. at least. and should have been
much brighter in October. for instance. than
1t Is now. There are only two things comet
can DO doing in the solar system; 1t must be
either approaching the sun or receding from
1t. II this comet is receding from the sun.
where were the eyes OF the astronomers when
1t was passing from its perihelion to the COM
paratively distant point which 1t has now
reached?
So In whatever way we regard It the comet
appears to be moro or less OF a mystery. I'm
doubtedly. the most interesting hypothesis is
that which assumes its identity with the
comet Of Bella In that view Of the case the
approach Of the comet to the earth Is a matter
OF the highest possible interest. because II In
the course of week It should as some calcu-
lntt ho,n til A1l 4 lie,
lance Of about a million miles from the earth.
that would be the nearest approach that any
comet has ever made to our planet. and there
can be little question that most interesting
and valuable observations would be made
bearing upon the nature and constitution OF
comets
But. granting the correctness OF this view
there is n 10 ground whatever for the alarming
statements which have appeared concerning
the probable or possible effect OF the comet
upon the earth. The exceeding tenuity Of its
substance is sufficiently we'll indicated by the
fact that for many nights past faint stars havo
been clearly visible shining through the comet
almost at Its very centre Moreover. as 1t has
apparently approached the earth. instead Of
growing constantly brighter as it grew larger.
its brillancy has. II anything. rather dimin-
ished. 1t is not easier to be seen now with the
naked eye than it was week ago: in fact, it
would rather seem that the com ct is less dis
tinct than it was last week. At the same time.
however. it is larger. that is to say. it covers
larger space upon the sky. Its this increase in
its apparent size which has formed the basis
OF the theory that 1t has been approaching the
EARTH But Its decrease In brilliancy would
not in itself be fatal to that hypothesis. be-
cause. as has already been said. the substance
OF the comet is excessively rare. and. as it
HraHv ~ rkl. H.
which 1t may be supposed to be composed will
be more widely separated. and consequently
the density Of the mass will appear to be less
than whenit was Mt II greater distance Indeed.
it has been said that when the comet is nearest
to the earth it may DO almost invisible in conse-
Quence OF this apparent scattering Of the
minute PARTICLES composing it.
This tenuousness OF the substance OF the
comet. then. may be regarded as sufficient
proof that it could do no harm to the earth.
even II 1t should strike it full tilt. Even the
gigantic comet Of 1911. perhaps the most
massive on record had compact nucleus
only two or three hundred miles in diameter.
and yet that nucleus shone with the brilliancy
OF star Of the first magnitude while 1t was
yet many times more distant from the earth
than the present comet is. upon the SUPPOSE
ton that 1t is really Bielas. But tho nucleus
difficult to make it out with certainty even
with telescope 1t does not present any
definite outlines. and appears to be luctuatinG
in brilliancy.
Inc absurd story has been published that
this comet Is likely to scatter masses Of iron
upon the earth. and the fearful consequences
OF the impact Of the missiles which it is
supposed to bo prepared to fling upon
our planet have been pictured In glow
ing coors. This story about the iron
masses In the comet has evidently been
suggested by the fall Of nm iron meteorite in
Mexico during storm Of metrors belonging
10 the Biela comet system In 1885. But 1t is
not believed by astronomers that that meteor
lite hau really any connection with the meteorc
Storm or any relation to Biela's comet. II this
comet really were composed Of masses of solid
matter capable OF penetrating the atmosphere
OF the earth and striking its surface with de-
structiVe Violence its appearance would be far
Inherent from that which 1t really presents.
Instead Of II family luminous ball OF haze