The Paducah evening sun., 1910-02-08
HALLEY'S COMET BIG AS A MIL
LION EARTRS.


Halley's comet, which Is the stellar
attraction for the coming spring. will
open its Paducah engagement on or
about April 1, and will give matinees
and night performances every day
until about June 1, when it will go
trouping through the empyrean, stop
ping at such important centers as
Jupiter, Saturn and other planets
which are not down in the guidebook.
1t is visible now with the aid of a
small telescope.
People who fear a collision be
tween the earth and the comet. which
is rushing toward us at the speed of
several thousand express trains, will
be more scared than ever when they
learn that the visitor is about 1000
900 times as big as our own little
planet. However, there's no fear,
says Prof Edwin B. Frost, director
of the Yeries observatory. for old
Mother Earth will not be affected by
the comet, because it is made only OF
gaseous materials, and not solid.
Professor Frost was being ques-
toned about circular sent out by
the Astronomical and Astrophysical
Society of America, which is to send
an expedition TO the Hawaiian Islands
to observe the comet.
The circular states:
"In view of possible large per-
turbations arising from the close APP
proach OF the comet TO Venus on
May 1 and to the earth on May is.
meridian observations are especially
desired during the period in which
the comet is sufficiently bright for
that purpose.
What are these possible large
perturbations?' Professor Frost was
asked.
THAT merely means" was the re-
ply, "that on those dates the comet
will be near enough the planets men,
toned to be affected by their attyac-
ton"
"will that effect the orbit of the
comet?"
at won't affect the orbit OF Venus
or of the earth, but it is likely TO
affect the comets orbit. That is one
reason why we want to get meridian
observations, which will show almost
exactly these orbital changes.
There will be an interesting spec
tacle, by the way, on May 1, when
the comet is near to Venus. The
planet and the comet will be practi-
cally the same distance from the
earth and every one viii be able 10
see their relative size"
And the comet will. of course, ap-
pear much smaller?" the suggestion
was made.
"Oh. by no meansl The comets
bulk exceeds that of Venus about l.
900 900 times. 1t is not solid mat
Ter, however. 1t IL gaseous and its
mass Is comparatively slight. There
lore, its attraction will not affect the
planets, while the solid, heavy planets
are hkely TO affect II a good deal
The earth and Venus are about the
same size, so that the earth, too, is
ADout one-mllhoneth OF the size OF
he comet"
"The close approach of the comet
10 the earth" continues the circular.
promises unusual opportunity for
study of the physical conditions that
obtain In such body, and, as an I'm
basis for such a study.
The committee recommends a photo
graphic campaign as long and as
nearly continuous as possible. The
romet's close proximity to the suns
direction at the time of maxSmum
brilhance imposes serious limitations
upon this program and widely ex-
tended cooperation will be required
throughout the whole circuit of the
earth II this ideal of a continuous
photographic record Is to be even re-
motely realized"