Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-25
THE COMET.
A WANDERER OF THE SKIES
MUCH TALKED ABOUT.
Saturday Night We win Make lis Aoqualn,-
ance-ho Danger Of Collision, and
No Hurt u There Is One.

Accompanied by map locating the
celestial tramp, few days since the
Gazette gave description Of the comet
now visible In the constellation Andre
media, and some of the reasons why II
was supposed to be Biela's. Its period
has not been accurately calculated ana
lis identity with the comet OF Biela IS
therefore not assured, Professor
Berbcrich's position in the matter ~
conuadictcd by other eminent asirono-
mers. and if not controdicted. not yet
subscribed to by many Americans.
Beln's comet has period Of revolu-
tions Of six and six-tenths years and IL
has been subjected 10 many vicissitudes'
even for comet. since its discovery IN
1926. 1t returned in lS32, was not seen
In 1899, in 1916 IL was found to be spit
in two parts, d faint nebulous band
connecting the two and It's shape had
altered mnrvelously. Prior to its split
ting il was much like a picture nai IN
shave. After tho separation one part
looked like drum majors stan ana the
other, very rudely, like a GIMP lodi
These two parts Travelled side by slde
for n time and then parted company,
nrohnbly for ever. Nothing more has
bncn seen Of Bicla's comet or comets
since that wear, until 1872 and lSsO,
when the earth passed through eXtraordl-
nnrv mpteOric showers Mt the time tne
comet should have been visible, ana II
was calculated that these We're que 10
a part disintegration of the comet.
I1,n roincidencr of the lately noted
COMET as to position and period with
Bielo's makes it highly probable II h
NE long-lost wanderer; and, If It ~,
Inc comets head and the earth VIII pass
In such close proximity TO one hNolnef
that 4 collision is possible or even prOpa-
bic. What them MI. .u,.i,.
While in the course Of time q cQllislon
Of the earth aud y comet Is pounu 70
same woods are moro likely 70 colilue'
Il The way Prof. Young puts ii;
This. OF course, refers only TO me
uucle,is or denscr part. The earth mas
NOR, than once passed through me tram
Of meteors that attend comets, and "
also pissed through the tenuons Ian oil
the famous comet OF 1851 without INJURY,
io,,,ot. thon that Of the best air pump
Vacuum. SO that II Is not hard thing to
Iii Even near the nucleus the density
Il not great Prof Rees said that he
had observed very flint stars "a andre
media through the head of this years
comet. "a. 49,. a,,.,,,
bpad on. no one can say eNnctiy what
tbe consequence would be. On the gen
orally accepted theory that the nucleus
~ To-, comets il composed of small particles,
he particles would be dissipated by
srict;an with the atmosphere long before
tbey passed through the fifty miles sur
rounding the earth II. however, the
nucleus is composed Of heavy masses,
hombnriment 20 which the earth would
be subjected might result disastrously.
n The comet Is Biela's it will pass the
nearest point in it's orbit to the earth
eirht hours IN advance OF the earth,
ei,ber next Saturday night or Sunday
morning. The comet Tuesday was 5000
.rsroIing 100000 miles Il day, says
prof Young Of Princeton. 1t Is about
81 900 miles In diameter, and tho proies-
sor ventures the opinion that there IS
nnt the least cause for any npprehen-
SION sS Of III results TO the earth If col
lision should occnr.