Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-13
Phenomena in Western Sky.

Phenomena in Western Sky.
Under the caption of "Halleys Comet in
the Evening Sky" the Scientific America
prints an interesting synopsis from the
pen of Prof Henry Norris Russell of
Princeton observatory of the phenomena
which may be expected to be seen in
the western horizon after the comet
passes across the sun, n few days hence.
In part DIR. Russell says:
THE average man will find by far his
best opportunities to see the comet dur
ing the last ten days of May. Its dis
lance from the earth in round numbers
will be 100000 miles May ~, 100000
miles May ~, 2s,OOO.OOO miles May 10. and
10 10000 miles May 81. At first its appar-
ent motion among the stars Will he very
rapid. but later 1t will seem to stand al
most still in the sky, SO that 1t will ap-
pear to shrink and grow viSibly fainter
from night to night.
From present indications it is probable
that at first (the 10th and 21st) the comet
will be as bright as those bright stars
which are visible at q glance. Toward the
end of the month it will be fainter, but
probably still easily visible to the naked
eye.
left practically, along the line of the COM
cts apparent path. How long il will be it
is even now impossible TO say. At first
the light of the moon (Which is full the
might OF the GSQp VIII uTOWu OUT Tic ld1ll-
err parts of the tail, but later, when it is
out of the way, these may perhaps be
seen, though the comet will be SO much
farther off that, on the whole, it will
hardly be SO fine a sight"
Earthquake an Accompaniment.
Only a few days ago there was published
in The Star an exhaustive explanation of
cometic phenomena by Edwin Fairfax
Naulty. owner Of a private observatory
in New York. and Mr.. Naulty propounded
the theory that the only effect upon the
earth of the comets passing would be
evidenced in the DETECTION or reflection
of solar energy. He reviewed the history
of other comets, and pointed out that
cyclones. great storms and
other disturbances invariably were mani
tested on the earth either during the
period when the heavenly visitors were
nearest to the earth or just after they
had passed into space. The phenomena,
he said, were caused by the earth seek
ing to adjust itself to the conditions
brought about by the change in the solar
forces.
Since Mr.. Naulty's paper was written
the earthquakes In Costa Rica nave oc-
Cured, earth tremors have been reported
daily from other points on the slope,
heavy storms have occurred at many
points, unSedSOHdDlG ITOSto idtC
crops, and in other significant ways his
theories seem to have been very strongly
Substantiated.
In the last few days there have been
alarmist reports of the very worst sort
regarding the possibility OF disaster when
the earth passes through the tail of the
comet next Wednesday. and on this point
Mr.. Naulty writes today as follows.
No Gas in Its Tail.
..There is absolutely not the slightest
trace Of gas of any sort or nature IN the
so-called tail Of Halley's comet n care
full examination made through a fine
spectroscopic apparatus of the forty-five
degrees Of tail which was visible this
morning disclosed only the well known
spectrum of reflected sunlight. In other
words those who have announced that
the tail of Halley's comet is composed
of gaseous Tapors. poisonous In their
nature. have been lab0rlns under mis-
understanding.
''The head of the comet shows faint
traces of cyanogen. hydrogen and the
rejected sunlight. The gases In the
head. or cOmaSphere. will no more at
feet the earth's atmosphere "Wednesday
comets tall than the poisonous mer-
curry vapor in the lights used In the post
office affect the atmosphere in which
The head of the comet, like all other
comets, is composed of various gases in
a high state of diffusion. But there is NOT
an atom of gas In the tail. The tail is
nothing but sunlight, processed through
the solar system by the head Or coma
sphere. of the comet. acting as a gigan-
tic spherical lens. The solar system is
filled with various gases i'm a high state
OF diffusion. and the outer LAYERS of the
earth's atmosphere are daily passing
through these diffuse gases of the solar
system without the slightest effect on the
atmosphere of the earth or the earth it,
self. These systemic gases are cosmica1
and the earth atmosphere is imperyious To
them to all intents and purposes as their
atoms are 80 widely separated that thy
make no Impression on the dense gases
that compose the atmosphere In the
very air We breathe there is cyanogen nv
drogen, hydrocarbOn and every variety of
known gas, but the poisonous gases in
the earths atmosphere do not destr,,,
life by wholesale. They do when they arc
condensed artiticially, or in mines and
the carbonic acid gas in the bottom of a
long unused well will destroy life but that
does not mean Wholesale danger to- The
earth.
Only Danger to Earth.
There is only one danger to the earth
from the passage OF a comet and that Is
the disturbing influence of the comet on
solar energy radiating from the sun.
explosions i'm mines, explosions of va
pors. chemicals and powder, and it, is
causing the Unusual weather. and will
cause more. But all these things have
happened before. and we still survive.
The earth has been through much greater
cataelysms than any a comet can pro-