The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1907-05-04


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 ligh. of
its own, due chiefly to the glowing
carbon vapor which is not unlike that
of an ordinary gas jet.
Though shining as brightly as Jup.
tier, and sometimes visible even in the
daytime, the comet is very light in
weight, being not more than one ono
millionth as heavy as the planet
named. That this is true is known
from the slight attraction it eXerts
on the plents. while the latter fire..
quently pull the comet out of its
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 a round, dim ball of hazy
light. AS it comes nearer the earth.
its tail will gradually appear and
lengthen. 1t may increase or decrease
from night to night, varying from %
to $4,000 miles in 81 hours, though
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 hazy light alone being left
to tell of its flight to Neptune. After
a 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 it never was before, for
we have instruments now that were
unknown when it was visible in 1885
The spectroSCope has shown Whal
other and smaller comets We're 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 repeling the
gaseous PARTICLES of waste material.
The effect OF the sll on the nucleus
is to draw it 70 it. 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 its tail
is not an integral part Of the main
body, for, if it was, the centrifugal
force to which its extreme end is sub.
jected would throw it off onto space.
The tail of Haley'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 a.
the same slow rate at the interior
particles and iD consequence. are left
behind
There are m"-y small periodic com
cts that have been discovered in re-
cent years, but Haliey's is the only
great comet that appears at regular
intervals and its periodic visits is AL
ways assured OF an interested and de.
lighted thronr Of observers FOR there
are few indeed who can say they
ever saw it before.
IN spite Of the comforting assul
ance Of astronomers that the ap
preaching comet will re harmless. SO
far as its general effects upon the
earth are concerned, ard providing.
OF course, that the ccmet ever
reaches us Nine de The5es, The
Mother Shipton Of Paris. has predict.
ed that the comet is going to mako
a great deal OF trouble for the earth
Nine de Thebes predicted the Beer
war, the great Charity Bazaar fire IN
Paris. the Seryian massacre, tie Sau
Francisco and Kingston disasters and
the discovery Of tadluM