The Detroit times., 1910-05-14
HALLEY's BLAzIN c
COMET SEEN BY
TINES WRITER
It's Tail Is 100000 Miles Long
When Viewed Through Great Tel
escope in Observatory at Uni.
versity of Michigan.
Prof. Hussey Says It Is Most Bril-
liant Sight He Has Ever
M Witnessed.

BY ALFRED }. PITTS.
(stafS Correspondent The Tlmes.)

blazing ball or fire with a tall 26'OOo'-
900 miles In length. hurtling towards
the earth at the rate OF 40 miles a sec
ond, Is an awe-inspiring sight to look
upon. II was presented TO me carry
today as ! looked at Halleys comet
through the monster telescope In the
observatory at the University Oh
Michigan.
As Il sped towards me it looked
about as large as dinner plate. IL
was hidden slightly by FUZZY cover
but Its cauldron-like properties were
plainly noticeable. The phenomenon
at that moment was 30,000,000 miles
from the earth, having Travelled more
than 800 900 900 miles since last Sep
TENDER, when II was first observed
after it's trip OF three billion miles
from outer darkness.
The sky never looked more brilliant
~as the comet slowly assembled In TIC
east at $3.50 o'clock. The tail, OF pure
white. was plainly visible, but the nu'
Cleus was hidden In the dark border
that lined the horizon In short
time, however, the head appeared. Al
first II looked like a star. but not quite
as luminous as Venus, whose bril-
lance was very pronounced. The
comet gradually arose until II present
cd scene of grandeur and magniil-
cence such as nature seldom produces
for our contemplation.
group OF so persons stood on the
hill outside the observatory, thrilled
by the brilliant spectacle, while Prof.
J. W. Hussey, the famous astronomer,
and his assistant, DR.. X. II. Curtiss,
were busily engaged In the great dome
taking observations. When the phe-
nomenon was it's best, presenting a
picture of vari-colered hues, was
permitted to look at 1t. II surely
looked like a ball OF flaming proper
ties. The middle was OF brilliant red,
while the edge was tinged with a
slightly dark hue. IL travelled at
rapid rate. IL being necessary to re
adjust the focus every few seconds.
Twentyfour hundred miles a minute
was it's velocity.
A crowd of curious persons-stu-
dents. citizens of Ann Arbor and
sometimes residents of other cities,
gathers oil the hill every night and
sweeps the horizon for a glimpse OF
the comet. Last night several women
sat near the observatory for fully an
hour and half before the phenom.
enon was visible. Pickering lights in
the houses nearby showed that the
occupants were astiT as early as 80
O'Clock. In one place two students
had been working studiously over
their lessons since the previous even
ing. determined to burn the midnight
oil for a double purpose-to make
sure that they did not fail in their
lessons and TO see the comet, about
which so much had been written ana
said.
At 1880 the crowd began to gather,
one or two persons appearing at fire.
uucnt intervals from different direc-
lions. BY the time the comet appear
ed there was striking group on the
hill. The majority of this crowd view
ed the comet until only small star
DINNER by far than Venus, had grad
uaIly disappeared from view OF The
naked eye.
Prof Hussey was In charge OF the
Lick observatory's eclipse expedition
To Egypt In 1905, and was awarded the
Lalande gold medal by the French
academy in 1906. He was called TO
the University of Michigan in 1906.
But, in spite OF his long and diligent
search Of the heavens. he told me the
view OF Halley's comet last night was
by far the most brilliant sight he had
ever witnessed.
Does the comet possess cyanogen
gas? Yes, but Prof. Hussey was not
alarmed as to the passing OF the earth
through the tail May Is. There was
a considerable portion OF this deadly
gas In the comet, he said, but not
enough to cause alarm. The earth will
go through this chemical body with
out sustaining any damage whatever.
Prof Hussey and DR.. Curtiss took
observations Of the phenomenon for
nearly an hour. They did not stop un-
Ill the red glow of the sun became so
strong that the tail had entirely disap-
peared and the nucleus became faint.
er. finally taking the form OF an ordi.
nary star. II faded entirely from view
as the glistening rays of the sun In
creased In strength and rose above
the horizon
The phenomenon will be exactly be-
tween the earth and the sun on May
IS. The contact with the suns disc
at the western edge will be at 6:22
D. m. Pacific Standard time II will
require an hour for the comet to pass
TO the easterly edge. The comet will
then be 14,30O.000 miles from the
earth, but II is not definitely known
that the earth will pass through the
entire tail
How will the world know whether
Il is passing through the tail? Per.
Shaps only from the observatories. Yet
Il Is not improbable that there will be
a faint glow some time during or
throughout the night OF the 18th. II
rs possible, though not probable. that
shere will be visible an unusual mum.
Der OF small meteors, Observers OF
Europe and the American continent
west OF Nevada will not be able To see
the comet when II is nearest the
earth. Il will be crossing the sun
and for those observers the sun will
have set.
Fear disappears with intimacy. II
YOU still have a lurking terror OF Hal
: iey's comet, take look at II from an
observatory; then chat for a half hour
or so with a Hussey or Curtlss. and
your fear will be replaced by conf
dence.
A new machine separates the whites
and yolks OF opened eggs by allowing
the former TO pass through sieve