The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-12-11
HALLEY's COMET SEEN.
Scientists Calculate That the Great
Meteor Will Como Within l4,OOO,-
900 Of the Earth.

scientific world. after an absence of
about rs years, was observed last
night In this city by DR.. John r.
Hooper and other members of the
astronomical section Of the Academy
Of Science, through the large tele-
scope recently installed at the aca-
denny.
DR.. Hooper said the comet could
be plainly seen through the instru-
ment on the roof of the building,
since the moon was not shining and
there was no mist.
1T is now passing through the
cluster OF stars" said DIR. Hooper,
called the Hyades, the bright red
star Aldebaran being the principal
one. 1t is in the constellation Tau
rus and when I first observed 1t 1t
was In right ascension hours, 25
minutes and 80 seconds. and at
north declination Is degrees, 81
minutes. 1t was moving slowly
southwark and one degree west
wardly. The comet is now 100000
600 miles from the sun and 135,C00,-
600 from the earth. It's appearance
through the telescope Is q round
nebulous body. with bright central
condensation that looks like a blur
red star"
DR.. Hooper said that theoretically,
according to the calculations of
scientists, the comet cannot be seen
through an instrument the size of
the one at the Academy Of Science,
which has s.6 aperture.
1.-THE comet tonight" he added,
"is much brighter than could have
been 'redicted. 1t Is moving at the
rate Of 1,250,0o0 miles a day to-
ward the sun and is daily becoming
brighter.
The comet was first observed by
DR.. Hooper at TAO o'clock and after he
was sure he had made such an in
teresting discovery he called In sew
eral other members Of the astrono-
mical section. who agreed that it
was the comet so much sought for.
DR.. Hooper has been watching for
the comet every favorable night,
but the recent condition of the moon
prevented the observation of any
faint objects In the heavens. Last
night the conditions were ideal for
observation.
DR.. Hooper was greatly elated ov-
er his discovery. as he says 1t proves
to the people that the members of
the academy are not asleep, but
keenly alive to what is going on in
the scientific world.
DR.. Hooper said that after ne
picked up" the comet again in a
six-inch glass 1t appeared bright
enough, he said. to be distinguished ID
without any doubt. 1t showed
brighter up and in clearer sky.
This was about 1890 O'Clock.
The comet has not been observed
In the East since November IS.
when 1t was reported to have been
seen at Beloit College, New Hamp-
shire. 1t was first seen September
II through a 15-inch instrument 1T
the Harvard Observatory. About "A
month later 1t was seen at North
field. Mimi, through a 16-inch in
strument.
AS far as u known this is the first
time that the comet has been OBJ
served through a 9.6-inch instru-
ment which gives the members of
the academy additional grounds for
congratulations. This instrument
was acquired by the academy last
winter from Mr.. George r. Vickcrs
the well-known capitalist and stu
dent of science. whose observatory
at Mont Alto was famous. 1t is an
immense telescope, which looks
much like a great cannon pointing
to the skies.
The comet was observed by Or.
HALEY more than 200 years ago. DR..
HALEY predicted that 1t would re-
turn again. 1t was first observed in
September, since which time astro-
nomers have been carefully observ-
Ing Its position in the sky and call
culating its path In order to find
out just how near 1t will come to the
earth and when 1t will pass closest
to the sun. 1t Is calculated that
early In May the comet will come
comparatively close to the earth
about 100000 miles-and that 1t
VIII present magnificent spectacle
I'm the sky. 1t will appear, accord
Ing to scientific men, as a brilliant