New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-16
|READY TO GREET COMET
Preparations Made at the United
States Naval Observatory.
TALK OF METEOR SHOWER
E, F. Naulty Opposes Professor
Halls View-No Danger
from Gases.

Washington May 15-Halley's comet VIII
be greeted on Wednesday on its closest
approach to the earth by bristling pat
terry of telescopes, Ranked by rapid-1re
lenses. In the celestial cameras or the
Naval Observatory. the only natiohai oo-
servatory in the United States. Inc gov
eminent observers are prepared LOT the
great star which Is rushing through space
and elaborate calculations have been mado
as to the minute and second the nyhis
comet will be at given places in the
heavens where IL will be observed ana
photographed.
Among the scientists there is some diff
ference of opinion as TO the effect on the
earth, but the differences are minor. Pro-
fessor Asaph Hall, of the Naval OpserVa-
tory would not be surprised IL there were
a shower of meteorites.
Others, and they appear TO be in the ma
jority, expect that disturbances Will
mark the passing of the comet. Edwin r.
Naulty, of New York. who has been at the
observatory making telescope and spectro-
scope observations of the visitor, takes
issue with Professor Hall, end contends
that the tail of the comet is composed
neither of gas nor meteoric bodies, and tnat
such a shower as Professor Hall deems
possible could not follow.
1.-THE tail of HaIley's comet TO all in
tents and purposes. Is a celestial search
light" said Mr.. Naulty to-day, 1T Is MOTH
ing more than sunlight condensed from
radiant solar energy and processed through
the solar system. precisely as tense To-
cusses. condenses and transmits light
He asserts that the tail OF the comet is
not composed of gas or of minute particles
tire solar system, Mr.. Naulty says, is filed
with gases in varying states of density.
All these gases. poisonous and non-poison-
ous are present in the earth's atmosphere
IN dense form.
The changing spectrum OF Haliey's comet.
according TO Mr.. NauIty's theory, is due to
the fact that as the comets great tail of
light sweeps through various parts of the
solar system it lights up differing layers
of gases, conveying the impression that the
tail itself Is gaseous. Mr.. Nauity says the
spectrum of reflected sunlight is always
present in head and tall of the comet, thus
proving that both parts of it are by sun
light alone made visible.
'"rhe sweeping of this cometary cone OF
solar force does cause disturbance in the
solar SYSTEM" said Mr.. Naulty. 1.-The
earth and all the planets are affected. not
only when they come within the actual
cone, as the earth will on Wednesday, but
also by the ethereal waves set In motion
by the comets tail. 1t is the constant at
tempt of the earth's mass and it's atmos-
phere to adjust themselves TO this disturb
ance that has caused the prevalent earth
tremors. storms and similar phenomena.
1.-THE climax will be reached this week.
There will he no collision Of the earth and
comet. nor will the earth be enveloped in
poisonous gases. The effect of the passage
may be to cause great condensation OF
atmospheric vapors. that automatically
the earth will be provided with a sort Of
shield which will act like a lead screen
used to protect X-ray operators
At the Naval Observatory the scientists
have been watching the comet through the
powerful telescopes every morning Just be-
fore sunrise. when it is brightest. The OBJ
servers each day can note the broadening
OF the tail and the enlargement of the head.
The heavenly body will increase in appar-
ent size and brilliancy until "Wednesday,
when ii will begin to decrease and in a
few weeks will disappear into spscss not
TO be seen again for nearly a century,