Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-04-12
WEATHER MEN TO
KEEP EYES ON
THE COMET
Observers Requested by Head
of Service to Watch Out for
Phenomena When We Pass
Through Tail Of Fiery Visitor,

If The earth should pass through
the tail Of 11alley's comet. as astron-
omcrs expect it will do, ON May Is,
next, an opportunity of a kind not
heretofore presented within the his
tory of the weather bureau will be Of
fered for the study OF certain met
geological phenomena. 1t has been
decided by the chief of the weather
bureau to take advantage of this OPP
portunity by securing the necessary
observations rs far as weather con-
titions will permit and for this pur-
pose he has requested weather bureau
Observers located throughout the
United states to note the different
phcnomcna occurring within the
earth's atmosphere.
Section Director Sloan al Santa Pc,
PROPOSES TO be alert as to the occur
renee Of anything within his sphere
OF observation. owing to the posi-
ton Of the moon on the dates within
which the transit of the comet viii
occur. May II, is and -, it is proba-
bic that the most satisfactory night
observations viii be obtained during
the last two or three hours before
daylight.
The following phenomena will be
observed:
j.. Auroral displaYs-Auroras serve
as indicators of the electrical state
of the outer atmosphere, and as this
state possibly may be affected by the
tail of the comet as we pass through
il, auroras should be watched for at
that time. The location. color, shape.
extent and other features as wen rs
the times of appearance. changes. and
disappearance, should all be carefully
noted.
>. Metcoric tails - The numbers,
times Of appearance, lengths of dur
ntion and directions and lengths OF
visible paths Of meteors should be
noted on all three nights. but espec-
tally on the night of the 18th.
.. Bishops ring - This curious
dust" halo has been seen around the
sun after the erptions both of Krawa-
toa and Mount Pele. and conceivably
might also follow the passage of the
earth through the tail of the comet.
1t therefore should be carefully look
ed for on the days specified, and, oc-
c%asionally, for some days after.
4. color of the sun and sky-Both
the general color of the sky and the
color of the sun depend on the dust
and other contents of the atmosphere
and should be carefully noted on the
given dates.
5. Twilight phenomena Twilight
colors. their distribution, and order
OF changes depend largely on the dust
of the atmosphere. and, consequently
these are phenomena that need to be
observed on the days indicated.
6. Luminous clouds - Neither the
material of these clouds nor the cause
Of their light is definitely known.
They seem to belong to the very high
atmosphere, and therefore should be
looked for at night in connection with
our transit across the comets tail.
These clouds are c%irrus-like in APP
pcarance. but may be distinguished
from true cirrus by the fact that
they are brighter than the background
of the clear nocturnal sky. During
the forepart of the night they are
seen above the northwestern horizon.
Z. Zodiacal light-From work re-
Gently done at the Lick and at the
AiOuHl w itSbll ObStIN tNbi 10 - Nttlil7
probable that the zodiacal light Is
caused by the reelection of the solar
light from dust in aud near the plane
of the acliptic. If so, then a change
might bc expected in it at the time of
the comets near approach to the
and therefore the extent, bril-
liancy, and other features Of the
zpdiacal light as they appear at that
time should be carefully noted.
4. Gegcnschcim Counter glow J
little is known of tho cause OF
this faint tinted glow seen in the
ccliptic at Il point directly opposite
TO the sun or along the shadow Of
The earth. Presumably 1t has the
origin as the zodiacal light, and
consequently may be modified during .
transit Of the earth across the tail J
" a comet. At any rate it should be
observed on the nights mentioned.
md its briiliancy at these times COM
pared with that on the nights when ;
mere certainly is no cometary dis
..urbance.
- General phenomena - Solar and 4
.unar aud coronas, and all other APP ]
'earances that may seem unusual and
worth mentioning.