Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-05-04

| oL lLS SolllClo less, the one named for Haley is formed of three distinct parts, namely the nucleus, coma and tail. The nucleus is the concentrated part and shines by the reflected light of the sun, while the tail gives out light of it's own, due chiefly to the glowing carbon vapor which is not unlike that of an ordinary gas jet.
 Though shining as brightly as Jap- | iter, and sometimes visible even in the daytime, the comet is very light in weight, being not more than one one millionth as heavy as the planet named. That this is true is known from the slight attraction 1t exerts on the plents, while the latter ire quently pull the comet out of its course. The tail is so flimsy that should it brush the earth it would hardly be noticeable.
 When Halley's comet>is first seen by the comet seekers as it rushes headlong toward the sun, it will ap- pear like round, dim ball of hay light As it comes nearer the earth, its tail will gradually appear and lengthen. It may increase or decrease from night to night. varying from 25 to 15,000 miles in 24 hours. though should it do this, it would be an ex- ception rather than the rule. As the great celestial messenger swings round the sun, its tail will apparently grow smaller, and finally disappear, the ball of hay light alone being left to tell of it's flight to Neptune. After little this will be gone to be seen no more until the year 1885.
 The composition of comets inter- estel men even before their periods were calculated, and Halley's will be examined as 1t never was before, for we have instruments now that were unknown when it was visible in 1895. The spectroscope has shown what other and smaller comets were made of. The nucleus is a solid mass formed of different substances. and this is an envelope of dense gaseous matter that is in perpetual motion. This portion is called the coma. and to its activity is probably due the tail. attracting and repelling the gaseous particles of waste material.
 The effect of the sun on the nucleus is to draw 1t to 1t. but at the same time it has an evident tendency to repel the tail. and thus it is that the tail always stands out and away from the sun. The terrific velocity of the nucleus when a comet whirls round the sun shows plainly that it's tail is not an integral part of the main body. for, If it was, the centrifugal force 10 which its extreme end is sub jected would throw it off onto space.
 The tail of Halley's comet when previously observed curved toward the rear something like a sword and indicating that the particles compos- ing it as they pass outward move at the same slow rate at the interior particles and. in consequence, are left behind.
 There are many small periodic com cts that have been discovered in re- cent years. but Halieys Is the only great comet that appears at regular intervals and its periodic visits is aI- ways assured Of an interested a,d de lighted thrOng Of observers for there are few indeed who can say they n,-e- Eavr fr before
 In spite Of the comforting assur- ance Of astronomers that the ap- preaching comet wiil be harmless. so far as it's general effects upon the earth are concerned. and providing. of course. that the comet ever reaches us. Nine. de Thebes. the Mother shiptoa of Paris. has predict ed that the comet is going to make a great deal Of trouble for the earth. Mme. de Thebes predicted the Boer war. the great Charity Bazaar fire ia Paris. the SsrTfaa massacre. the San FranciscO and KilzEtoa disasters and the dIscUvsrr e Tadsgza