The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-09
MORE COMETS COMING.
Some Facts Of General Interest
and Some Popular Beliefs About
Them-..Brook's Comet.

The announcement that Brooks
period comet, which last approached
the earth in 1895, has again put in an
appearance, has called attention to the
fact that one of the most important
of all these peculiar bodies is again
approaching, and in fact, has already
been sighted by astronomers. This
comet is known as Halley's, taking its
name, as do the others, from the as
tronomer who discovered them.
aalley,s comet is one which has an
interesting history attached, and
several superstitions are laid at its
door. It is one of the oldest known to
astronomers and is the first whose or
bit was computed Its perihelion dis
tance throws it within the orbit of
the earth, and there has always been
fear, among many people, that each visit
would mean collision between the
earth and the fiery visitor, the only
result of which would be the destruc-
tion Of the earth. There are no grounds
for this belief, as the two bodies, the
earth and comet are far enough dis
tant from one another to prelude any
danger of collision.
The comet is one Of the largest
known, and has tail that is especial
ly conspicuous, and this has made it a
particularly fearsome object. One
case is recorded, however, when the
comet was taken as good omen. This
was in 1865, when it was seen by Will
liam the Conqueror as he was starting
on his invasion Of England He ac-
cepted the visitor as good omen and
ordered it embroidered on the Bayeux
tapestry, this sign of the faith that
the Conqueror placed in the comet be-
ing in existence today.
The popular belief and the legends
that have been handed down state that
when the comet visited the earth in
1855 that it was formally ex-com-
municated by Pope Calixtus III in a
bull issued that year against the Turks.
Historians have differed, however
as to the foundations of this legend.
1t is regarded as certain, however,
that the comet furnishes the origin of
the ringing of the church bells at noon.
The comet should become visible to
the naked eye during September 1911.
It has already been sighted by astro-
nomers with the aid of the telescope,
and is reported as approaching rapidly.
It is large and brilliant with brightly
flaming tail. It was the first Of the
periodic comets whose return was pre-
dicted and the first whose orbit and
period was computed. 1t requires
seventy-fve years and a few months for
the comet to circle its orbit. The last
visit to the earth was in November
1885.
The Brooks comet, which has just
been sighted is one of a number that
were discovered by DR.. W. r. Brooks,
professor of astronomy at Hobart col
lege. It's period is seven years, the
last visit made to the earth occurring
in 1896. One of the remarkable fea-
lures about this comet, which is not
visible to the naked eye, is that its
tail has the appearance of being broken,
the break occurring near the end fur
thest from the nucleus Of the comet.
Astronomers are not certain whether
this break is the result Of some,matter
thrown from the nucleus of the comet
or whether it was caused by the comet
passing through field of meteors
None of the Brooks comets are visible
to the naked eye and most of them at
tract the attention of only the astronm-
e.s and others interested in the study
of the heaven and the heavenly bodies