Milford chronicle., 1901-07-05
ENcKE,s COMET.
It Is Expected to Return In ssbtenis
H. ~ Ahn n-.aarA -


Il Es Expected to RetuRn In Gspeens s
Der Of the Present YoaR.
Among the periodic comets due IN 1901 /
is Encke's comet which is expected to
return to perihelion about the middle o.
September Its last return to periheli0H
took place on May "A, 1898, the same day
on which il also occurred at the first pre-
dicted return In 1922. N prediction
was made by si0hann Franz Eneke, after
whom the comet has been named, aAd lie
detected the periOdicity Of the comet In
1919. a
The comet had been frequently obserY-
ed during the preceding 30 years, and as
soon as the elements OF It's orbit had been,
computed and compared with the elB-
ments Of the orbits Of comets which had
previously appeared It was found TO be,
the same comet which had been observed
In 1855, 1905 and 1905. Having thus
Identified the comet at four different Te-
turns to periheliOn, Eneke was enabled to
ascertain the period Of Its revolution
with great precision, the result being 2Ss
years. the comet having the shortest
known time Of revolution and being the
first Of the short period comets.
Eneke predicted its return for 1922.
making due allowance for planetary per-
turhations, and on account Of its posi-
tiOn In the heavens be announced that the
comet would only be visible in the south
eFn heavens. The return Of the comet
was therefore looked for By astronomers
living IN that part Of the world and dur
ing the month OF June was sighted BY
watcher at Paramatta. 10 New South
Wales. The next return was predicted
to take place in 1925, and on the 13th 81
July, true to it's appointed time, thu
comet was observed BY Walls at Nismes.
The neat return took place IN 1873
when Il was hrst seen By StruYe at Dor
pat, In Russia, ON Oct. Is Of that year
and remained under observation at tbs
European observatoriea until Dec. 25
On Nov. Z, 1928, Professor StruysSmadl
a series of observations OF the comet, auS
he noticed a star OF the eleventh ,maRui
tiide so near the center OF brightness Il
the comet that be mist6ok It at 6rst fol
: the nucleus. The briGhtness Of the sta
D was not in the least pereaptible degrsl
diminished by the mass Of cometary mat
ter through which its light had passed
By Nov. 30 the comet had greatly 70
creased In brightness, and this must b
i ascribed to the contraction and conni
/ ter Of which 1t is composed as 1t recede
= from the sun
In 1882 the comet again returned 70 Il
peFihelion, but. being unfayOFablE sit
< ated for observation, it was only seen
d Harding at Gottingen on Aug. u. Hoy
Il ever, it was observed By Henderson I
4. the Cape Of Good Hope during the enti
4 mouth Of June and was. also, aesn, At Bu
: nos Ayrps.- In 1885 It was observed fro
q July y till Aug. 8, and 10 1888 Il vi
ie seen at BreslaO on Aug. IA as Te
d faint, III defined object Il subsequent
j. increased in brilliancy and continued VII
Bile until the middle Of December.
In combining all the observations whit
~ had been made from 1768 to 1888 incl
u sive. Encke found that the period OF rev
r. luton Of the comet was regularly dimi
q ishing BY about 2ia hours at each ratu
ie to peFihelion. :.
!. This effect he attributed 70 there
ing action Of resisting medium ~ spas
n This theory seemed to BE- connrmea
re observations made at the rogufn q Z
r. comet in 1912. 1e46. 1852, 1856, 16s
as 1862 and up to 1888, but at lts Foturnl
20 1858 the acceleratiOn had fallen to OF
half its customary and until then c0nsta
&C value. The change has proved perm
lg nenf, and accumulated facts bid fair
r. Danish the theory OF resisting madiuI
an out Of existence.
re- The comet has been seen at every
"A turn to periheliOh lately, the oates OF
- visits being 1895; 1898. and is now los
ed for In 1901. Il has been descEibed
m irregular in form and ''lumpy" In aDpe
. ance, seldom showing q well defined /
eleus. Under very favorable ciFeu
IN. stances It can be seen with the unaid
10. eye, but is usually visible only. insthe-t e
IA scope. 1t does not exhibit much In
-, way, OF jets and envelopes, and the ira
IN when visible. Il but degree Or two
ir- Iength.-M. Proctor in Scientific Amt
IA. can.