Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-19
Admit They Do Not Know What
Has Happened or May Happen.
NONE VENTURE EXPLANATION
Prefer to Wait Further Developments
Before Advancing Theories Re
garding the SCATTERING of
Their Very Careful
Computations.

he earth did not pass through
the tail of Halleys comet last
night. as the astronomers had
calculated it would do.
On the contrary, the sClcn-
fists of the world were amazed
when early this morning the tail
was observed to be still in the
east and not in the west, as
their careful computations said it
3 should have been. thus setting at
variance all scientific figures and
predictions for the first time
in the history of astronomical
science.
What the astronomers have 10
say OF the strange occurrence Is
given in the dispatches and
cablegrams contained below.
WILLIAMS BAY. Wis. May 19.-Shat-
tering all scientific calculations and COM
pletely puzziing astronomers, the glowing
tail of Halley's comet appeared in the
eastern sky today at a time when the
worlds comet authorities had agreed it
would be in the west.
Such eminent astronomers as Prof. s.
A. Mitchell Of Columbia University, n. Y;
Prof. Edwin B. Frost, head of the
Yerkes observatory staff. and Prof. Ed
ward Barnard of the University Of Chi
cago agree that the glow of light they
saw in the east was the comets tall. No
adequate explanation. however, Is forth
coming. .t
e~s Three Possible Explanations.
Prof Mitchell. Prof Frost and Prof
Barnard say that any of the following
three explanations may be right:
First. the curvature of the comets tail.
first discovered and noted by Prof. Bar
Dard Tuesday night may have developed
TO wholly unexpected degree, while the
head of the comet has passed the earth
on schedule.
Second, like Borelli's comet of 1908.
Halley's comet may have ceased its tall
making activity, cutting off the glowing
fan that is now puzziins the scientists.
Third, It Is possible that all calculations
are wrong and that the comet has not
yet passed the earth.
As nearly as could be computed the
period of the appearance of the comets
tail in the east extended from 1890
O'Clock Wednesday night to 800 o'clock
tlllS II Was sui pidiilly NlSlDic
at time when the astronomers were
confident the earth would have passed
completely through the tail
Were Certain of Calculations.
After leaving his telescope at daybreak
IIof. Frost issued the following state
n,ent:
Greater than all the theories and all
the computations are the facts. And
tie fact is that the tail of Halley's
comet has been appearing in the east
IN practically the same place 1t has ap-
peared since yesterday morning. There
is no question about that The tail
which giowed from the horizon close to
the milky way before midnight until
dawn has not yet passed across the earth.
That is a certainty.
In additino. ii is also certain that there
is no material elimination In the size of
this tail as compared with the tail Of the
day before.
I'VE are confident that the calculations
for the passage of the head of the comet
between the sun and the earth are COR
rect Cnquestioned astronomical authori-
ties. working Independently of each other
In all parts OF the world. arrived at these
calculations. which have been corrected
In detail ever since the comet passed
Venus on May .
I'VE are also confident that the head of
the comet made the transit as per sched-
ule. But the mystery of the appearance
OF the tail in the east this morning Is
the great puzzle II cannot be explained
satisfactorily at this time"
May Not Touch at All.
SAN JOSE, Cal, May l9-According to
DR.. Campbell of Lick Observatory, there
is possibility that the earth may not
pass through the comets tail after all. In
statement issued early today he said:
The tail was visible as soon as the
moon set. 1t IS probable that We shall
mis-: passing through the tail TONIGHT be-
cause 1t is tagging by several million
miles The comets orbit is inclined to an
angle with the earths orbit and II Is
probable We shall not pass thro iyh the
tail at all
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa. Nav
19-AccOrding to the observations made
at the Transvaal observatory. OF which
r. L. A. 1nnes Is the director. the earth
had not traversed the tail of HalIev's
comet at dawn today
The tail was still north OF the ecliptic.
and at the observatory it was thought
probable that the earth would pass con
siderably TO the south OF il.
May Meet Tail Tonight.
PRINCETON, n. j., May 19.-Prof.
Henry Norris Russell of the astronomica,
department of Princeton University In q