The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-11
COMETS COMING.
At Least Three Will be Seen This
Year

AT least three comets are due in 1897,
of which two will very probably be Wis
| ible. The third, when it was first dis
covered, was only family seen. and
since then it has not been visible. DR..
Spitaler, who is at present a member
of the staff of the Prague Imperial OBJ
servatOry, discovered this third comet
in 1890. He was observing the sky at
Vienna on November 18th of that year
and suddenly saw what seemed 10 him
a faint comet. He observed more close
ly and was soon satisfied that it was.
He found that it was moving in an
elliptic orbit, with a period of six and a
half years, and, therefore, he calculated
that it should return to perihelion on
March 11th 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 that anyone saw it then. The
only fact, then, clearly established is
that there is such a comet, and that it
may be expected to appear-though it
may never be visible-every six and
half years.
The famous astronomer DArrest dis
%, 1851, and this, too, will be due in
perihelion during the coming spring.
D'Arrest calculated that it would COM
plete a revolution in six and a half
years, and its subsequent appearances
proved that he was correct.
1t has been observed in 1857, 1870
1877 and 1890. when it passed its peri
helion on September 10Th. The exact
OF 1.-Ji ~
present year cannot be ascertained, but
that it will appear and be visible is con-
sidered certain.
The other comet is the one which was
| discovered by Tempel in 1869 Tenn
pei, however, only partially discovered
it. for he remained ignorant of the fact
that it would reappear periodically.
Indeed, its periodicity was not detected
until Professor 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 in
1870, but escaped observation, as it
was not looked for, and a similar fate
befel it in 1884, for reason that, though
it was looked for, it was so unfavorably
placed that a satisfactory observation
was impossible.
The astronomers had better luck at
its last appearance, which took place
in 1891. In that year the perihelion
passage took place in November, and a
little calculation shows that the comets
next appearance will be in April or Nav
of this year.
In connection with these facts it is
interesting to note that the comet dis
covered by Mr.. Perrine on December
y, 1896, has now been proved to have
short period-Only six and a half
yedrs-and it is therefore a member of
the so-called Jupiter family. Another
notable fact in regard to it is that it's
elements closely resemble those of Bic
la S lost comet in everything but the
longitude of the perhelion
Nowadays the return of a comet seems
ominous to no one. except to the ultra
superStitious, but in past ages such an
occurrence was generally regarded as
of extraordinary moment. Some of the
most famous men that have ever lived
believed that comets have a powerful
influence on mundane affairs. and
traces of this primitive belief are still
said to linger in occult societies and in
certain country districts in Europe.