The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-08

presented in nature as being
/ exactly the same as that in
the case hitherto supposed. But our
illustration will. at all events, suffice
! to give a general idea of what act
ually happens. The con-etS are drawn
in from the depths of space, they ap-
proach the sun, they sweep round tlle
sun. and they then retreat again to the
abyss from which they have come. The
/ laws of mathematics assure US thar it
| is quite possible for an object, after
jouTneying from an immeaSurably long
time, to enter our system, TO wheel
round the sun, and then again retreat
30 commence an infinite voyage which
should last for all eternity 1t is per
fectly certain that this kind Of motion,
which we know to be possible, does
closely resemble that actually perform
ed by many of the comets. These bod
les erter our system, they come into
the vicinity OF the earth. and, under
these circumstances, they are accessi-
bic to our observation. AS they re-
treat into space they gradually with
draw from our view. Many of the
comets which come to visit us appear to
be objects which have never been with
in the ken of the earth before.
There are, however, a few of their
bodies which describe orbits of a differ
ent kind. They move round in elliptic
or oval paths, so that their visits to
our vicinity and their subsequent ViSi-
bility to the inhabitants of the earth
recur with more or less regularity. OF
such nature is that most famous of
all comets, which bears the name of
the illustrious astronomer, Haley. This
splendid object accomplisheS a complete
circuit around the sun every 70 years
1t will again display its splendors for
terrestrial admiration about the year
1910.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND COMET LORE.
Our knowledge of comets has been
greatly extended in the last few years
by the application of Photographic
methods to the investigation of the
heavens. 1ndeen, we are evidently now
entering upon new phase in the his
tory Of the study of these mysterious
objects. The advantages of photog-
raphy for such inquiries are obvious
In the first place, the plates present
to us pictures of absolute accuracy.
This is matter of special Importance
IN this research because the appearance
of comets changes so necessarily, that
unless the portrait Of the comet OBJ
tanned on any particular occasion be
absolutely faithful, it is impossible to
correct 1t on any subsequent occasion. !
Not only from week to week does the |
comet alter its appearance, but it |
changes even from day to day. 1t is. |
therefore, of the utmost inheritance to |
obtain views of the body which shall be !
OF unquestioned accuracy so far as the
aspect of the body is concerned al that
particular moment. There is also an
other reason why Photographic pictures
OF comets are particularly instructive.
1t is popularity of the sensitive plate
That 1t is liable TO perceive and record
luminous expression too faint to pro-
luce in0nraSCi nm he |
we examine the photograph of a comet,
We thus often find on it many details,
Nhlch were quite unseen by the OBJ
server, no matter how acute his vision
nay have been, and no matter how
powerful may be the telescope which he
las been employing. 1t is, indeed, some
INES found that the tail of the comet.
Is 1t is depicted on the plates. is three
INES as extensive as the tail of the
ame body as it is displayed through a
elescope.
An interesting comet, which has af-
orded much occupation to the pho
ographer, was discovered on July s.
$50, by Alfred Rordame, an astrono-
ner residing in Salt Lake city. w. J.
iussey obtained some admirable pho
Gsraphs OF this object at the Lick
observatory, and we are also indebted
o the same astronomer for a very in
account of the physical char
cteristics of this body
THE NEW RORDAME COMET.
On looking at the photograph of the I
omet ROrdame on the 18th of .J11Iv {
nd comparing it with that taken on l
he following night, the observer will I
e astonished at the difference in the {
tructure of the two tails It would '
eem as if some violent dislocation of E
ne material of the tail must have
AIKEN place in the interval which has t
apsed between the times when the /
No pictures were taken There is no f
oubt that visual observations would l
ever have established this point so I
early as the photographs have done. c
1t will be noticed that the plates are
larked over by a number of bright f
a
IT