Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-03-15
COMETS COMING.
Three of These Heavenly Wonders viii
be seen This Year.

Three of These Heavenly Wonders viii
be seen This Year.
At least three comets are due in 1897,
of which two will very probably be visi-
ble The third. when it was first dis
covered, was only family seen, and since
then it has not been visible. DR.. Spita-
Ter, who is at present member OF the
staff of the Prague Imperial observatory,
discovered this third comet in 1890. He
was observing the sky at Vienna, on
November II of that year, and suddenly
saw what seemed to him a faint comet.
He observed it. more closely, and was
soon satisfied that it was. He found
that it was moving in an elliptic orbit,
with q period Of six and a half years,
and. therefore, he calculated that it
should return to perihellon on March IL
of this year.
There is little likelihood, however, that
any Of us will be able to see it.. and for
this reason: 1t was nearest to the earth
last September, and there is no record
then, clearly established, is that there is
such comet, and that it may be ex-
pected to appear though it may never
be visible-every six and half years.
The famous astronomer D'Arrest dis
covered a comet at Leipzig. on June -,
1851, and this, too, will be due IN .perlhe-
lion during the coming spring. DArrest
calculated that it would complete revo-
luton in six and a half years, and It's
subsequent appearances proved that he
was correct. 900
It has been observed in 1857, 1870,
1877 and 1890, when it passed its peri
helion on September 16 The exact time
at which it will appear during the rres-
ent year cannot be ascertained, but that
It Will appear and be visible is considered
certain.
The other comet is the one which was
discovered by Tempel in 1869. Iempel,
however, only partially discovered it, Tor
he remained ignorant of the fact That 1t
would reappear periodically. Indeed, its
periodicity was not detected until Prof.
Swift rediscovered it in October. 1880, IN
consequence of which it is usually known
as SWift's comet.
The period of this comet is only about
five and a half years. 1t appeared III
1875, but escaped observation, as It was
not looked for, and a similar tate be1el
it in 1884, for the reason that, though II
was looked for, it was so unfagorably
placed that satisfactory observation
was impossible.
The astronomers had better luck at its
last appearance, which took place IN
1891 In that year the perihelion pas
sage took place in November, and Iftle
calculation shows that the comets next
| appearance will be In April OF May OF
| this year.
| In connection with these facts It IS in
| teresting to note that the comet discoy-
cred by M. Perrine on December .. 1896
has now been proved to have short
| period-only six and half years-anq
! it is therefore a member of the so-ellled
Jupiter family. Another notable tact in
regard to it is that its elements closely
resemble those of Biela's lost comet in
everything but the longitude of the peri
| helion.
| Nowadays the return of a comet seems
ominous to no one, except to the ultra
superstitious, but in past ages such ar
occurrence was generally regarded as OF
extraordinary moment. Some Of the
most famous men that have ever lived
believed that comets have a powerful in
fuence on mundane affairs, and traces
of this primitive belief are still said K
linger in occult societies and in certain
country districts in Europe.-New 1orl
/ Herald