The Glenwood post., 1910-04-02
HALLEY'S COMET
DUE may 1S
Dean Howe Explains Many
Things About Interesting
Summer Visitor
Do NOT Be ALARMED

tail of Halley's comet will pass through
the earth May 1S.' said DIR. Herbert
H. Howe of the Denver university, in
his lecture on the famous comet which
is just now causing so much talk and
so much anxiety in some circles,at the
First Babtist church last night. "The
tail of the comet is now some 100000
or 100000 miles in length and is
steadily growing longer, and hope
that when it comes the closest to the
earth, on that day, it's tail may reach
the earth, for here is one man who will
be heartily glad to be in the tail of
comet.'
There will be no very serious effects
from the collision. according to Dean
Howe. In fact, the ordinary person
will probably never know any such
awful catastrophe as being hit by the
tail of comet has taken place.
Scientists all over the world are pre-
pairing to make all kinds of observa-
tions, however, and it is believed that
quite bit more will be known about
comets after the near approach of Hal
ley's
Dean Howe's lecture was one of the
most interesting that has been given in
the city for some time and he held his
audience far better while he discussed
subjects that are usually confined to
scientific journals and college class
rooms, than many popular lecturer.
He began his address with general
,aisepsgioR- OF planets and comets but
soon confined himself to The famous
HALEY comet which has played no
small part in the history of the world.
since the first record we have of its
appearance in 243 b. G.
Comet Has Been Regarded
As Some Harbinger of Evil
The fact that comet has always
messenger, portcnding some catastrophe.
was amusingly illustrated by DIR. Howe
by short quotations from old books tell
ing of the deaths by fright, the sale
of places in paradise and all of the
commotion and turmoil that accompan-
led the appearance of comet in the
Olden days. To show that this super
stition was not yet extinct, he read a
few clippings from recent American
newspapers telling of the general alarm
felt in some sections of the country at
the approach of the comet. and quoted
from few letters received at Chamber
lain observatory at University Park
within the last few months. This serv-
ed show that all of the old superstition
about the comets is not. yet dead
The fact long known to scientific
men, but of which the general public
still seems to be in ignorance that a
comet is not a solid body, but col
the size of a grain of sand, some of
them, possibly, a few miles in diameter,
was carefully explained by Dean Howe.
Each of these little bodies is surround
ed by an atmosphere of gases which go
to make up the body of the comet
While he admitted that there might
possibly be some danger from a sudden
collision with a comet, though even
this was doubtful, Dean Howe declared
that he was willing to assert that nj
one would be injured in the coming
collision with its tail unless there
should be few. of those deaths BY
friehts which are recorded in the an
cient books.
All Largo Bodies Collected
in Head Of the Gomez
If there are any large bodies in th'
comet they are all collected in the heaf
and the lighter substances are all forcet
into the tail. The reading of list O
observations recommended by wei
known astronomer to be taken on tn
day of the collision well shows that nj
danger is expected. There are tc b
experiments made to see if the electri
cal conditions are disturbed, especial.
the wireless systems. There will be
careful search made for rings aroun
the sun. for although the comet will b
directly between us and the sun, it
not thought that we will be able to Sc
it on account Of its gaseous character
It is believed, however, that ther
may be ring around the sun. Anothe
observation that will be made il tel
Of the atnosphers to sss Il thsrs