The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-31
COMETS ARE AGAIN
APPROACHING,
Heavenly Visitors Have Again Been
Sighted by Astronomers.

Heavenly Visitors Have Again Been
Sighted by Astronomers.
The announcement that Brooks Pc
riodic comet, which last approached the
earth in 1896, has again put in an APP
pearance, has called attention to the
fact that one of the most important of
all these peculiar bodies is again APP
preaching, and, in fact, has already
been sighted by astronomers This
comet is known as HaIlY's, taking its
name, as do the others, from the as
tronomer who discovered them.
Halleys comet is one which has an
interesting history attached, and sew
eral superstitions are laid at its door.
1t is one of the oldest known to as
tronomers and is the first whose orbit
was computed. Its perihelion dis
lance throws it within the orbit of the
earth, and there has always been fear,
among many people, that each Visit
would mean a collision between the
earth and the fiery visitor, the only re-
suit of which would be the destruction
of the eartn. There are no grounds
for this Relief, as the two bodies, the
earth and planet, are far enough dis
tant from one another to preclude any
danger Of a collision.
The comet is one of the largest
known, and has a tail that is especial
ly conspicuous, and this has made 1t
particularly fearsome object. One
case is recorded, however, when the
comet was taken as a good omen. This
was in 1866, when 1t was seen by Will
liam the Conc ueror as he was start
ing on his invasion of England. He
accepted the visitor as a good omen,
and ordered it embroidered on the Ba-
yeux Tapestry, this sign of the faith
that the ConQueror placed in the comet
being III existence to-day.
The popular Ltlief and the legends
that have been handed down state that
when the comet visited the earth in
lass that it was formally excommuni-
Gated by Pope Calixtus III in a bull
issued that year against the Turks.
Historians have differed however, as
to the foundation of this legend. 1t is
regarded as certain, however, that the
comet furnishes the origin of the ring
ing OF the ClUrch bells at noon.
The comet should become visible to
the naked eye during September 1871.
1t has already been sighted by astrono-
mers with the aid of the telescope, and
is reported as approaching rapidly. II
Is large and brilliant with a brightly
MANNING TAN. IL was the nrSt of the
periodic comets whose return was pre-
dicted and the first whose orbit and
period was computed. 1t requires sew
enty-five years and a few months for
the comet to circle it's 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 features
about this comet. which is not visible
TO the naked eye. is that it's tail has
the appearance Of being broken, the
break occurring near the end furthest
from the nucleus of the comet. AS
tronomers 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 a 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 astron-
omers. and others interested in the
study Of the heavens and the heavenly
bodies