The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-10-08
Halley's Comet Next Spring

Halley's Comet Next Spring
IF you live until next spring you
are going TO witness one of the most
magnificent sights the heavens have
ever disclosed before our eyes" said
well-known member of the astrono-
mical force at the United States Nava
Observatory. "Halley's comet comes
only once in a lifetime, and many
persons are born, live and die with
out catching a glimpse of its marvel
Gus dash of fire across the skies. 1t
was last seen in 1885, and few persons
now living can say they ever wit
messed it,"
The astronomical world is now on
the watch, and huge refracting and
reflecting telescopes are trained up
on the heavens from many points on
the earth in a common effect to To-
cate the comet, which is approaching
the earth at a terrific rate. There is
a friendly rivalry to see which will
be the first to see the comet with
their mirrors.
The comet in it's full refulgence
is not due until 1910, but by spring
it will probably be near enough to be
visible by naked eye. In the past
it has spanned the heavens almost
from the horizon to horizon, covering
as much as 100 degrees of celestial
territory, and standing out like a
great living thing Of fire. 1t is now
somewhere off in space, but not yet
visible to astronomers. They conf
IDENTIFY expect some one to look ii
up before the end of 1909, and after
and size until it reaches its nearest
approach to the earth, some time next
spring, after which it will disappear,
not to be seen again in IS years.
Halley's comet has been visiting
the vicinity of the earth ever since
500 or 600 years before Christ. Hal
ley was an Engllshman whose name
was given to the comet because he
was the first to announce that this
particular comet came near the earth
at regular periods once every 80 years
He went over the records and by
series of computations found that
what had previously been regarded as
series of different comets was moth
ing more than the same comet, and
that this the most magnificent of all,
came around regularly every IS years.
That was during the latter part of
the eighteenth century, and HALEY an
nounced that this comet would next
appear in 1885. He never lived TO
see it come, but his successors found
that his prediction came true.
The comet will first be picked up
somewhere off in space by some pilot
graphic telescope. I'VE think we know
just about where the comet will
make its debut, but can't yet see
it. The moment it is found the news
will be flashed around the world.
There will be no trouble seeing it
with the naked eye. II will illuminate
the heavens. We have some early
golden dragon of the heavens. 1t
will make a tremendous splash of fire
After it comes and goes it will shoot
away from the earth, going as far
away as Nepture, the most distant
of the planets. passing all of the
other planets enroute, including Uran-
us, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars.
We have calculated that Halley's com
ct is now within the orbit of Jupit-
er, and is rushing toward the orbit
of earth at the rate of 100000 miles
a day As a faint nebulus object in
the constellation Orion, 1t will no
doubt be picked up in few weeks.
Celestial photography has 1t already
located in limited space beyond the
vision of the most delicate telescope
research. AS the comet enters In the
orbit OF our solar system 1t will grow
brighter every day until 1t becomes
visible to the naked eye, the most
spectacular object in nearly 100 years
There will be no danger of a collis-
ion with the earth. When closest 1t will
be about 100000 900 miles away. 1t
should be brightest about next May.