Evening journal., 1910-05-18

BY DR.. Harold Jacoby Rutherford. Pro-
fessor OF Astronomy az Columbia
University; Written for .he United
Press.
New York, May 1S-The proof of the
pudding is in ths eating and the proof
Of astronomy is IN what will happen
tonight when the earth will probably
pass through the comets tail. Astron-
omers have made their deductions as
accurately as they knew how but every
one will have personal knowledge Of
the exact truth by midnight.
The comet can no longer be seen IN
the morning sky. Henceforth Il will
be visible only in the western sky in
the evening directly above point where
the sun set.
This appearance will take place every
night for six weeks beginning to-mur-
row. The elearness with which the
cOnet may ht viewed WIN depend on
the blackness Of the skies. The moon.
which win be full by May "a. viii in
terfere with the view until that date.
During the first and second week in
June, Il is likely the comet should be
seen i'm all OF its glory then it Will
gradually disappear.
BY the end Of June the comet will
have disappeared not 10 return for 70
years. The current visit has aroused
the greatest popular interest and
astronomers expect as a result there
will be a stimulus In the science of
astronomy which will bear fruit i'm new
discoveries and inspire the young TO
follow Halley's example.
One benefit has resulted from the
widespread discussion Of the visitor
that is the world has been rid of much
superstition touching the end-of-the-
world problem
By United Press Leased Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. May lS.-To-day is
comet day. Fourteen million miles away
Halley's comet is ploughing through
space at the rate Of about 10000 miles an
hour. passing across the face Of old moth.
err earth About ] O'Clock tonight tho
comet will give its 25OOO.O0o mile tail a
swish and will swing its shining appon.
dage so that the earth will swing through
H.
Every available telescope field glass
and even opera glasses will be out and
at work tonight. But it is just probable
that many OF the star gazers will be dis.
appointed.
For the comet itself. will not be visibI,
from the earth The very best that car
be seen, will be the luminous glow OF the
gaseous tail that will surround the earth
The comet itself win be below the hori
zon.
Again the natural light Of the sun and
moon may blot out entirely the glare oi
the comet.
We may see some phenomena similar
to the aurora borealis caused by the re
faction of the comet glare through tn,
earths atmosphere and by the effect oil
the vacuum. that scientists say forms III,
tail. on the swiftly revolving earth They
will not be the direct comet spectaci,
though, but a kind Of side show Of tn,
main circus.
Some Of these auroral effects were noted
by Professor Asapha Hall and his corp.
or scientists at the naval observatory
here while they watched the comet thi,
morning. There were apparent stream,
Of light. shooting hther and thither n
the tail Of the comet. each seeming lik,
comet within a comet p--troscopel
and other special instruments are beinl
used by the sky sharps TO determine tn,
nature of these phenomena which the,
believed are closely associated with tho
tremors that characterize the aurora II
northern ATTITUDES.
Only a clear sky and darkoned moor
will give the general star gazers an op
portunity TO do much comet gazing to
might The real view Of the heavenly Wis
Confinlled ON Secnnd Iare