The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-04-28

twelve seconds away from schedule. -
From the verification of these pre-
dictlons was laid the foundation of eX-
act astronomy. At the present time
with the refnements of modern science
it is possible to trace the records of
Halley's comet back without a break to
the year II B. C. These records are
absolutely authentic The first record
ed appearance of the wonder was in 240
B. c. Thus for 1000 years this same
comet has been revisiting the earth at
periodic intervals. For a thousand
years in Thy sight are but as yester-
day."
On Tuesday night at II O'Clock this
comet may be said to have finished an
other lap in its journey for at that time
1t turned on it's course and started back
on its long journey out into the depth
of space, where no man can follow 1t
even with the most powerful telescope.
Away out through space beyond the
oroit of the most distant of discovered
planets it will journey, again turn in it's
course and return as spectacle to
those unborn.
AS the earth and comet approach
each other the comet enormously in
creases in brightness, at first slowly,
then quicker and quicker. On May list
the comet will be fully twice as bright
as it is today; on May 4th it will be
three times and on May 7th four times
as bright. On May 10Th, when at its
brightest, it will be thirty-fve times
more brilliant than it is today.
1t will remain morning object, rising
before the sun till May Is. To find the
comet before that date look to the east
toward the point where the sun is to rise.
The best time to see it will be a little
over an hour before sunrise. The comet
will rise tail first, the tail pointing di-
rectly away from the sun.
The best time TO see the comet in the
morning will be from May 10th to May
18th, when on the later date it will be
twenty times as bright as it was last
Sunday morning. After May 10Th the
comet draws in toward the sun quickly,
and on the evening of May 18th it passes
between US and the sun and after that
date it will be in the evening sky, set
ting after the sun. On May 18th in will
be at It's brightest and can be seen in
the west just after shutdown.
For the next few days thereafter the
comet should present magnificent spec
tacle in the evening sky, with a tail
pointing up from the horizon stretching
one-third of the distance to the zenith.
1t will vanish to the unaided eye before
July LIST.
From recent measurements head of
the comet is 200, 900 miles across and
on February 18th its tail was Is, 900, 900
miles long. Today its tail is at least
double that lenght.
1T the dimensions of comets are
large" says Prof. Mitchell, 'thelr
weight is very small. 1t has been said
that if properly compressed a comet
could be carried in a mans coat pocket.
This statement, however, is poobably
much exaggerated.
In speaking of its tail Prot Mitchell
says, 1.-THE comets tail is not like smoke
left behind by locomotive, for after
the comet passes the sun the tail goes
ahead of the comet. Thus it is readily
seen that the tail is not physical APP
pendage that is firmly fixed to the
comets head. So quickly does the tail
frisk around when the comet rounds the
sun that we can assume only that the
tail is continuously formed anew, a new
tail not every day but every second.
The old material that had formed
the tail yesterday is left behind in
space. AS a result of this continuous
election of matter comets must of nee
essity be continuously growing smaller;
nevertheless we have records of Halley's
comet for more than 1000 years at
tWenty-nine returns to visit the sun,
and still II continues to shine apparent
ly with undimmed lustre. Indeed the
wonders of the heavens are marvelousl"