Morning journal and courier., 1892-11-21
1T NAY BE BIRLA,s COMET.

G. p. serviss Talks About the Visitor
He Said liz Is Not Coming Straight
For the Earth and VIII Not strike
H.
There has been such e scarcity of comets
lately that people caught eagerly at the re-
cent announcement that there was onein the
heavens visible to the naked eye, and the
interest was intensified by the accompany
Ing announcement that the celestial visitor
was making straight for the earth at q rate
which was uncomfortable to contemplate.
1t is coming toward us, and may entertain
us with some celestial fireworks, but the
center of 1t will probably not come within
1t come head on against the earth, we
should probably only notice it as an IN
psralleled display of shooting stars, and it
is far from likely that many meterites
would reach the surface of the earth.
Garrett P. Seryiss, the well-known lect-
urer and writer on astronomical subjects,
who has been closely observing the comet,
told 8 Tribune reporter its interesting
story. THE comet, he said, sis Of ex-
ceptional interest for several reasons. The
most important one Is that 1t may prove to
be Biela's comet or q part of II. This
comet has a period of six and three-fourth
years. At peribeilon in 1916 II was seen
to be split into two portions, travelling
side by side. In 1852 Il was seen again
divided as before, but the parts were many
millions of miles from each other Since
then it has not been seen, and IL has been
supposed that IL broke-up, the parts scatter
Z, IL Ia. skns I'LL
meteoric displays have been observed since
the disappearance of the comet during the
latter part of November, when the earth
pssses through its orbit, confirms the the
DRY. 1t cannot be determined yet whether
or not this IL Biela's comet. The reasons
for conjecturing that it may be are as fol-
lowe: 1t is close TO the place where Biels's
comet should be and Biels's comet Is due
this month. Its diffuss appearance adds
to the probability, as Biels's comet was
known to be disintegrating. There lie
nothing whatever in it's physical appear
snee or movement thus far to contradict
the theory that it is Biels's comet return
ed"
will 1t not overthrow the theory of the
reporter asked.
mot necessarily. The comet may have
gone to pieces as has been supposed, and
may be scattered over an immense area,
this being merely a portion where the
particles are thickest. There is, however,
one objection to this suggestion. Where
have these congregsted metsors been all
these years, why have they not been OBJ
servedl The earth has been in favorable
positions before. Comets break up, but it
is not known that they ever come together
again. 1t is an unexplsined point. When
/ first observed the comet 1t was almost
noticed that 1t is becoming elon-
gated. This shows that 1t ia not |
coming directly toward the earth, |
but is moving along at an angle We shall |
cross its course ahead of it by several days,
and consequently there will be no collision, |
If there were one, the comet /
would suffer worst, none of its pieces be- |
ing probably ten miles in diameter. / |
think it very likely, however, that we shall |
nave a more than usually brilliant display |
IF meteors on the evening of November %. |
Il is unlikely that any Of the particles will /
reach the earth. There is but one case on /
record where q meteorite fell during a
neteorio shower The comet, even should /
Il come very near Us, would have no sp- |
preciable effect on atmospheric conditions, /
Dr. on the weather"
Professor Reese of Columbia college has
also been making a special study of the
comet Night before last he made an OBJ /
servation at the Columbia college observa- /
tory, and noticed that the comet was not |
80 bright as when he observed ID before.
The nucleus WIS fainter and the comet was |
more diffuse. This fsintDess may be only |
apparent and may be due TO atmospheric |
conditions. Even If it is real it does not /
follow that the comet is receding. No tail /
lss been seen yet, but there may be one
/ long one and big one. The tail of g
,omet always points away from the sun.
The earth is nearly between the comet and
he sun, consequently the tail, If there Is
,ne, is behind andi liDe with the head.
There are several other comets about, but /
IL are telescope and none Of them are of
pecial interest.