The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-05
COMETS DUE THIS YEAR.
Only Two Regular Visitors Are Expected
to Make Their Appearance.


to Make Their Appearance.
From knowledge.
OF all the periodical comets whose
orbits are known with some accuracy,
two only are due to return to perihe-
lion in 1896. One of these has been
seen at seven previous returns, all con-
secutive; the other has hitherto been
seen at only one appearance, unless a
remarkable theory which has then
started should be found on the forth
coming return to have been founded on
fact The former of these two comets
is that known as Faye-s, because 1t
was discovered by the veteran astrono-
mer, NJ. Frye, at Paris, on Nov. %, in
the year 1S43. It's orbit was calculated
to be a short ellipse, with a period of
about seven and a half years. and it
only returned to perihelion in 1851. be-
ing first seen by Professor ChalliS at
Cambridge on Nov. %, 1850. 1t has also
been observed at every subsequent re-
turn, and was last in perihelion on
Aug. 20, 1888. Another return to that
position will be due on March 10 next,
but the comet was nearest to the earth
in October last, and was seen by NJ.
Javele at Nice so early as Sept. 26,
nearly six months before perihelion
passage. This comet is very faint
object and has never been visible to
the naked eye. It's orbit is remarkable
amounts to only about 0.55. When in
perihelion the comet never approaches
the sun so nearly as the greatest dis
tance of Mars; when in aphelion, its
distance somewhat exceeds that of Jul
piter, and it was probably the attrac-
ton of that planet which first brought
1T into our system.
The other comet to which we referred
was discovered by Mr.. Brooks of the
Smith observatory, Geneva, n. Y, on
July 6, 1889. S. G. Chandler of Boston
showed that it had made a very near
approach to Jupiter three years before,
which would have the effect of greatly
changing it's orbit. Now, a comet dis
covered by Messler at Paris, more than
125 years ago, on June IA, ITO, was CAL
culated by Lexell to be moving in an
elliptical orbit, with a period of only
five and half years, but failed to put
in an appearance when afterward due,
so that it acquired the name of Lexells
lost comet. This failure, however, was
explained as arising from violent per-
turbations. produced by the attraction
of Jupiter The comet had, in fact, APP
preached that planet in 1867 within
distance of only about one-sixteenth
part of the radius of Jupiter's orbit,
and this circumstance it was that
brought the comet within view from
the earth, which it approached in 1910
within a distance of little more than
seven times that of the moon. 1t prob
ably returned to the perihelion in IT'S
or 1776, but in a position unfavorable
for observation; and in 1873, before an
other return was due, Ii approached
Jupiter even closer than before, COM
ing, indeed, nearer to that planet than
the distance of his fourth or most dis
| tant satellite, and it's orbit thus again
undergoing a great alteration.
Now, Mr.. Chandler thought from his
| calculations, that the comet discovered
! by Mr. Brooks in 1889 might be Lexells
| comet brought once more into VISIBLE
ity from the earth by the attraction of
| Jupiter in 1886. DIR. c. Lane Brooks
| comet was moving, when discovered, in
an orbit with a period of nearly seven
years, so that it will probably come
into perihelion again in the spring or
| summer of the present year. 1t is
hoped that ii will be possible to obtain
| observations on that occasion by which
astronomers will be enabled to come to
| a definite decision with regard to the
suggested identity with Lexelrs lost
| comet of 1770. The orbit. as deter
mined from those made in 1889, is even
less eccentric than that of Frye's COM
ct. and the perhelion distance from the
! sun is greater than the mean distance
| of some of the small planets, being
more than twice as great as that of the
earth. The eccentricity of the orbit
amounts to only GAS; this is the small
| est of any known comet, with the
| doubtful exception of the one denomi-
mated Temples first periodical comet,
| which was discovered by the late M.
| Tempel at Marseilles in 1867 and OBJ
served at returns in 1873 and 1879, but
not seen subsequently. 1t should be
added that Mr.. Schulhof has recently
made some calculations which seem to
| show that the comet discovered by
| Professor Swift in August last year
| land not Brooks of 1880 was Identical
with Lexelrs. The period of Swift S
comet is about seven and quarter
years, but at the next return IN lsoz !.
is likely to be very unfavorably placed
for observation, particularly in the
| northern hemisphere, so that we may
have long to wait for the decision OF
this question.
Reduced rates to Austria, Germany
| cuadap and ALI points in Europe. Tick