The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-11-29
THIS COMET.
Some Interesting Facts About the Thing We
Are All Discussing.

The strange comet now visible in the con-
stellation Of Andromeda, says The New York
Sun. is as great puzzle 10 astronomers as IL
was when ii first appeared, although for two
weeks constant observations have been made
of it and the most ingenious spcculations have
been INDUCED in concerning its identity and
lis probable future relations to the earth.
The opinion mas been very generally enter,
tanned that it is Ricla'S comet. the reasons
for that belief being that Biela's comet, if
still III existence. is now due 10 appear aud
that the place of the strange object III the
sky is very near to that which BicaS comet
should occupy at this time. But owing TO the
fact that the comet has apparently been APP
preaching the earth head foremost no trust
worthy observations have been obtainahlc as
to its exact course through space and so
there has ut no time been any positive proof
that II is Bela's comet. Against the theory
of its identity with Biela'S is the known fact
that that comet broken up many years
ago and apparently dissipatcd or scattered
along its orbit in the form of clouds of me-
teorites. 1T is very difficult TO understand
how such scattered material could be rcaS-
sembled in the form of q comet, because the
fate of all comets appears to be to undergo
dsintegration as they continue to revolve
around the sun, and it has been thought that
the final fate of every comet was to become
ring of mctcOric particles revolving about
the center Of tho solar system.
The most recent observations have tended
TO throw some UOuDI upon tHe identity vi int
strange comet with Biela's All the state
ments that have been made by various astron-
omcrs concerning the distance Of the comet,
its probable course through the heavens and
its approach TO the earth have been based
upon the suppoSitiOn that il is BiclaS. II it
is not BieIa's, then those statements go for
naught, 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 then be hundreds Of millions of miles
away. Instead of being only 10000 miles in
diameter il may be 100000 or 100000 miles:
and instead Of having an insignificant nucleus
1t may have q comparatively large and massive
one.
But if. as some of the later observations in
dcate. it is not approaching the earth, as
has generally been supposed, but Is perhaps,
receding from if. then it is extremely diff
cult TO understand why it has not been seen
before Ii discovered on November 6ti,
and was at that time faint object, If at all
visible 10 the naked eye. But If it Is comet
that is rec2ding from the earth, then it should
have been visible for a month or tive, at
least, and should have been much brighter
in October for instance, han it is now -A-.rc
are only Two things n comet can hc doing ia
the solar system; it must be either approach
ing the sun or rCccdng from il. If this comet
is receding from the sun, where were the
eyes of the astronomers when ii was passing
from its perhelion TO the comparatively DIS
tant point which it has now rcachedE
So in whatever way we regard it the comet
APPEARS TO be more or less of mystery.
Undoubtedly, the most interesting hypothesis
is that which assumes its identlty with the
comet Of Biela. In that view of the case the
approach of the comet TO the carth Is a mat
ter of the hiEhcS; possible interest because
if in the course of Il week il should, as some
calculations have indicated, arrive Wlthlh
distance Of about million miles from the
nth 1h3T q
that any comet has ever made 10 our planet
and there can be little question that most m
tercsting and valuable observations would be
made bearing upon the nature ana cohShtu-
ton of comets.
Bar, granting the correctness Of his view,
there is no ground whatever for me alarming
statements which have appeared concerning
the probable or possible effect OF the comet
upOn the earth The exceeding tehul(E OF us
substance is sufficiently wen indicated by the
hnve been clearly visible shining through
over. rs it has apparently approached the
earth. Instead OF growing constantly brighter
rs ii grew larger it's lrillancy has If any
thing. rather diminished. II is not easier 10
be seen now with The naked eye than 1t was
a week ago. In fact, ii would rather seem
that the comet IS less distinct than it was
last week. At the same time. however. 1t IS
larger that is to say, it covers larger space
upon the sky. 1t is this increase IL itS Hpua-
rent size which has formed the basis of the
theory that it has been approaching The calin.
Huf its decrease in briancy would not III
itself be fatal to that hypothesis, because
as has arcady ao"n said thr substance of the
comet is "Xcos>i} ely rare. and. ~ II draws
may he supposed Ia lac composed will be more
widely scnaratcd. and consequently the d"nsi-
~ Of the mass will appear to - Tess 3 lhin
it has been said TINT when the comet is near
est the earth il may be almost lnIlslhle
in consequence of this apparent scattering
of HE minute particles composing it.
This tenuousneHS OF the substance or me
comet then. may he regarded as sufficient
hat If cpul do harm TO the EARN,
even if it should strike it full tilt. Even the
gigantic comet of 1911. perhaps the most
only two or three hundred miles in diameter,
and yet that nucleus Shonc with the DfI!ilahty
yet many times more distant from the earth
than the present comet is. upon tn" suppose
ton that # is really Biela's. But the nucleus
of the present comet is barely visible. II IS
difficult to make it out with certainty even
with a telescope. 1t does not present any
definite outlines, and appears to be huctua'ihg
The absurd story has been published, that
this comet is likely 10 scatter masses Of iron
uD0n the earth and the fearful consequences
of the impact OF The missiles which it is
supposed 10 I've prepared to fling upon our
planet have been pictured in glowing colorS.
This story about the iron masses IN me comet
has evidently been suggested nv me fall or an
Iron metcorite in Mexico during a storm Of
metpors belonging 10 the Btrla comet system
in 1850 But it is not believed by astronomers
that that metcoritc had really any connection
win. the mptn0rir storm, any relation to
composed of masses of solid matter capable
of penetrating the atmosphere OF the earth
and striking its surface with destructive VIC
Irure its apppa rance would be far different
from that which ii really presents. Instead
of - family luminous h"il Of haze. barely
visible even with m opera glass It would
appear glarin% WITH intcns" light. and show.
ing. both by the energy of its radiations and
hv the Indications Of its spectrum. the effects
of the continual clashng that would be go
ing on at its center among the masses COM
posing its head.
But if this be BicaS comet it is not
reasonable 10 expect that its approach to the
earth will be accompanied by mcteoric show
crS Already, indeed. mcteors proceeding from
the radiant point TO Which the met coric swarm
that has been recognized rs forming probably
a part OF the matter once constituting I,icla s
comet have been noticed in unusual numbers
for two or three nights past. AT the end Of
this week and the beginning OF next they may
assume the proportions IF shower of
metcors If nj the same time the come; con
Times to approach the earth the evidence of
lis identity with Riela'S and Of its connection
with these meteorS will become very strong
ilHepd.
mt in any event. none need look upon the
comet with the slightest alarm The earth
is so completely protected by its atmosphere
against meteoric particles that they can do
us no harm. They move SO swiftly that the