The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-11
Think We is
REAL FINE COME i
Richmond People Gaze on Morn
ing Star, and Call 1t Hal
ley's Wonder.
FIRST SEEN IN WASHING TON
Big Telescope at Naval Observa-
tory Gets Initial View in
This Country

Although Richmond people for the
past week or more have been sitting
up until daylight to sec Halley's comet,
and many have gone to bed satisfied
Gfter gazing at tho old familiar morn
Ing star, which has preceded the ris-
ing of the sun since the beginning OF
time, yet the comet itself was first
viewed in this country yesterday morn
ing, and that through 26-inch tele-
scope at the Naval Observatory in
Washington. For some weeks past the
comet. which is travelling through
space at an Incredible rate of speed,
has been directly behind the sun from
the earth, and therefore invisible even
By the use of the most powerful glass
IA few days ago its first appearance
was reported, peeping from behind the
sun. the view having been secured by
an observatory at the Cape of Good
Iope Africa that continent seeming
to have been turned lust the right way
a. the moment of its appearance. The
Washington Naval Observatory comes
IN second.
But according to astronomers, those
who have been star gazing need not
be discouraged When they see the
comet along about May they will
know it, and will not he confused by
the extra brilliancy of Venus in a clear,
dustless atmosphere, for the big stripe
o: the comets tail will stretch across
the heavens like scar or a pencil
mark
Comet Seen in Washington.
special from Washington descrih-
Ing the observation there yesterday
morning, eSays:
..Halleys comet was seen here to-
day for the first time. those favored
with this primary view. being Proies
sor Asaph Hall. of the Naval Observa-
tory, and his assistant. II was about
4;3o o'clock in the morning, when
through the big twenty-six-inch tele-
scope at the observatory, they OBJ
tanned sight OF the wanderer OF the
quarters of century has been hidden
from the eyes of the inhabitants on
this globe. For about fifteen minutes
the comet remained visible.
an about three weeks. when the
comet will be visible to the naked eye,
IT will rise two hours and forty mn
utes before the sun. To-day II came
up an hour ahead Of the. great lumi-
nary. The comet, therefore Will be
visible for a longer and longer period
each day. although those who wish to
see ii will be Obliged to arise early
Popular apprehension regarding
harm to the earth and It's inhabitants
during the visit of the comet TO this
portion of the universe is unfounded
]. Moore. chief OF the United states
Weather Bureau, says that the resul
of a collision between the earth ant
y comet would depend upon the mas:
of the comet, the velocity of the bodie:
and the angle of impact. but that II
the present case collision would b
impossible, owing TO safety margin
of some 100000 of miles between
the tracks OF the earth and the comet
THE tail of the comet through which
the earth probably will pass, VIII b.
noticeable only as an absolutely harm
less luminous gas or dust. may
produce electrical and magnetic ef
fects that can be detected only by self
recording Instruments"
Not Apprchensivc of Danger.
DR. William II. TAYLOR, one of The
local authorities on astronomy, and a
close student of the history Of Halley's
comet and its former appearance is not
apprehensive of any danger, though
he admits that a comet is to some
extent an unknown quantity, ii there
is any danger, he says, 1t VIII be
for few hours on May IS when the
earth passes through the gaseous tail
According to DR.. Taylor the comet
should be visible to the naked eye
about May /, in the morning sky an
hour or two before sunrise, and near
the present position of Venus. On
May IS ii passes between the earth
and the sun, the great gas tail, like
a smoky cloud stretching away from
Inc sun, ana consequently toward the
earth. As the earth Is known to have
passed through the tails of severa
comets before, there is no reason fol
apprehension. though some astrono'
7ners believe there may be electric dis
i1urbances. possibly interfering for
few hours with telegraph and tele
phone Instruments, as though Their
had been thunder storm.
Will BE Plainly Visible.
The time TO see the comet in peace
according TO DR. Taylor. will be whe
t1he period of its closest proximity ha
passed. Along about May "a it shoul
appear brilliantly in the evening SKY
just after sunset, in the southwes
And as II will then be speeding ava
from the earth as fast as 1t can 5000
the timd ones can take a look wit
satisfaction.
lust what Will be the effect of pass
sing through the tail of the comet
largely a matter of conjecture thong
some think it Will be hardly if at al
noticeable. IT may be that the case
are so diluted and spread over so lare
an area as not TO be detected save b
the most delicate Instruments Other
think there may be an effect nc
unlike the aurora boreals.
Whatever II may be, Richmond pee
pie may as we'll come down off III
house tops and sleep in peace for In
present, as the keenest eyes will nc
discern the stray one of the HEAVIER
ffor several weeks.