New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-20
TT MAY BE BIELA'S COMET.
G.. P. SERVISS TALKS ABOUT THE VISITOR
HE SAID 1T is NOT COMING STRAIGHT FOR THE
EARTH AND WILL NOT STRIKE 1T

HE SAID 1T is NOT COMING STRAIGHT FOR THE
EARTH AND WILL NOT STRIKE 1T
There has been such a scarcity Of comets lately that
neone raucht eagerly at the recent announcement tnat
there was in the heavens visible to the naked eSo
md the interest Intensified by the accompanying
announcement that the celestial visitor was mshihs
strs,xht for the earth at rate which was uncomi0r
able 10 contemplate. Anybody who looked out on d
clear evening expecting TO brilliant awe-insprlhg
object In the sky with bright head and long. glow
ing drapery of tail was disappointed. Many VINO ia"
hunted out the rather faint Mu OF Andromeaa win e
aid Of their star charts were unable to ca'ch sAp
Of the comet. The comet, however Is Vlbole 10 mos
whose eyesight is exceptionally good as falh' log Inv
mass glowing softly In the centre. and gradually sHAN
ing out into the black sky. y coming toward U.s. d'u
NAV entertain us with celestial fireworks ou' '
centre OF It will probably not come within looo0o"
miles OF the earth Even should 1t come heau Oh
against the earth, should probably only houoa "
all unparalleled display Of shooting stars anu 10 ''
from likely that many meteontes would reacn 'He '''
face Of the earth. - u.
writer on astronomical subjects who has pee o0sey
observing the comet told a Tribune reporter ias'
evening It's interesting story. The comet ne ssau
ais OF exceptional interest for several reasou1' INV
most important one IS that 1t may provo I" w D'A
comet or a part Of It, This comet has pe"ou o.
six and three-folrth years. At peihon'h IN i
II was seen TO BE- split into two poruohs' ''Svo,hs
side by side. In 1864 1t was seen AGAIN uVldeo
49, 80. Inn, the norts wero many millions Of miles
from, zach other since then has not been seen ana
II has been supposed that 1t broke up the psr's
scattering along It's orbit. The fact that o11ntn'
meteoric displays have been observed SINCE 'he us
appearance Of tho comet during the latter part %
November, when the earth passes through us oro's
confirms the theory. It cannot DO deto'mihea yo'
vhetber or not this Is Biela's comet Tho reasons
,or con,soturing that II may be ore as follows, Az
10 cosa 10 the place where Biela's comet shou'a 81
and Bela's comet is due this month. lis dllu>o 1p
nearaace adds the probability. as Bieias cou''
known TO be dlsintegrating. There Is no'hha """F
ever IN It's physical appearance or movement '"us la
N contradict the Theory that 1t is Biea's Gomez To
turned Ill a.. ~.
AT II should prove 70 be Biela's comet VIII II not
.vertbrow the theory of the origin OF the NoVem-
Der 81 motors ?" tho reporter ASKED
Not necessarily. The comet may nave eono "
pieces as has been supposed and may DC se"''e.eS
over an immense this beng merely pNu0'
where the particles ere thckcst. Tnefe is ho"e'"'
one objection 10 this suggestion. Where nave l'eSe
,opgregated meteors been all these years. why pavo
they not been Observed The earth mas oeeh y.
favorable positions before. Comets break up, DUO !"
Is not known that they ever come together again 40
is an unexplained point. When l first Observed 'he
comet IL was almost exactly circular, Duo lazy
have noticed that 1t Is becoming Elongated 1is
but IS moving along ~ angle. We shan Cross its
course ahead Of 1t BY several days md consequently
there will be no collision. although II there were ore
me comet would suffer worst none OF nv, us PEGS
being probably ten miles in diameter tnnK ~ voTS
iikely however that we shall have more tIAn t
usually brilliant display Of meteors on the evening ".
November 81 1t IS unlikely that any OF the particles
viii reach the earth. There Is but one case on reo0fd
where a meteore fell during meteoiic shower. ne
comet even should it come very near rs, w0ulG haVr
no appreciate effect on atmospheric condition. or
on the weather. . -,, -, .,oo hoar
making special study Of the comet Night BEFORE
last no mode an observation at tie Columbia ,oeoc
nhservetory' and noted that the comet was not so
bright when he had observed bee a ne THIS
falntness may be only apparent and may be que 70
atmospheric conditions. Even II IS real ~ o S
not follow that the comet is receding. NO tau IaS
been seen vet but there may be One-a long one aua u
big one The tall Of comet always points away
from the sun The earth Is nearly between me Gomez
and the sun consequently the tall there Is one, IS
behind and in line with the head Thero arc severM
of them are Of special interest.