The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1892-11-24
LOOK OUT FOR THAT COMET.
It's Fiery Tale May Give Earth Pret-
ty Close Shave.

NEW YORK, Nov. 21,-The great
comet which is rushing towards the
earth has now come into the field oi
vision so that it may be seen with the
naked eye. From this time on it will
grow larger and larger until next
week, when, if the prediction OF the
astronomers be correct, it will be the
most conspicuous object in the heav-
ems. The comets position at present
is in the constellation Andromeda,
That is the way the scientists indicate
its whereabouts to each other, and a
brief examination OF an almanac will
enable any amateur astronomer to
readily find it. In the earlier part OF
the evening it is almost directly over
head, near the zenith, where it can
easily be detected with the aid of a
good field glass, and its position once
known it can readily be found with
the naked eye. Within two or three
days the most casual observer cannot
fail to notice the fiery monster. 1t
has travelled millions of miles since it
was discovered on the evening Of Nov.
6. Since that time all the leading as
tronomers, both here and in Europe,
have turned their telescopes upon it.
The observations of the comet in
the United States have been numer-
Gus, and in this city Prof. Harold Ja-
coby and others at the Columbia Col
lege Observaty have devoted much
study to its movements. Some excel
lent work has also been done at the
Harvard Observatory, Cambridge,
Mass. There the professors have
made nightly studies OF the comet
and have made several successful at
tempts to photograph it. 1t is not yet
quite sure that it is the famous Biela
comet, nor have they been able to cal
culate just how close shave it will
give the earth.
But whether the present comet is
Biela's or an entirely new one, no
doubt is entertained of its immense
size and that it will come very close to
the earth. The exact period of time
and the distance which will seperate
them are unknown, and it is even
possible that, as Prof. Klinkerfues pre-
dicted in 1872, the two bodies may
come in contact, such contingency
has often been considered in the as
Economical world. Some scientists be-
lieve that Biela's comet did not ex.
plode OF its own volition in 1S45, but
assert that in its wild flight through
space it must have struck a star and
ricocheted off towards the earth, and
that the force uf the collision broke it
all up. Gregory, Laplace and Whit
son have shown what would be the ef-
fects of such contact in the case OF
the earth, and the assertion has been
made that it was the conjunction of
the earth with the comet which caus-
ed the duluge.
"If the tail OF II comet" says Grego-
ry, reached our atmosphere, or if any
part of the matter which composes
that tail spread over the heavens and
fell upon it by lis own weight, the re.
sulting elIiuvia would work material
changes for man and plants, for it is
indisputabe that vapors brought from
regions so distant and strange and ex-
cited by so mighty heat woud be
deadly TO everything on earth and
would occasion the direst calamities,
These, however, are merely specula-
tions upon remote contingency
While it would be possible for the eartf
and the comet, or its tail, to come ir
to collision, it is regarded as extremely
improbable that any such thing vii
happen. Experience has shown tina
Biela's comet would get the worst o
it if it came to close, and that tn,
chances for a meeting between thu
two are very slender. At the sam
time, as the two have to pass the sam
given spot on tho night Of the 9Th
the race may produce some interest
ing results.
In finding the comet with the make
eye its distinguishing reddish colo
should be remembered Last nigh
after q remarkab' d sunset and wilC
storm, the sky cleared and the cond
tions were favorable to observator
work in this and neighborjng State
) Homestead Strike is 0A.