The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-03-05
WILL APPEAR APRIL 4.
Halley's Comet VIII Soon be Visible
to Naked Eye.

Now that Halley's comet is rapidly
approaching the earth. and is soon to
become an object of great popular in
terest, the public will desire to know
the leading facts concerning this fa-
nous celestial visitor, and to learn
Asomething of its eventful history. In
lust what part of the heavens 1t is at
present. when and where 1t may be
seen best, when il will be nearest the
earth, and what danger, If any. is
there OF a collision with our globe
are some Of the questions that are
naturally asked.
The comet Is at present in the con-
J stellation Pisces. about half way from
the zenith down To the western hori-
zon at dark, and about eight degrees
west of the planet Saturn. It is not
yet visible to the naked eye, and as it
is approaching the sun. IT will soon be
lost I'm his rays till about April l.,
when 1t will reappear In the morning
sky ahead of the sun. On March "a
II will be on the opposite side OF the
sun from us. and on April 90 IT will
pass its perlhelion at a distance of
54.000,000 miles from the sun.
Seen I'm Morning.
From that time till May 10 it will
be a glorious spectacle i'm the morning
heavens. On May IS IT will pass di-
rectly between the earth and the sun.
when II will be only $4,000, 900 miles
from us. AS II sweeps rapidly by us
II will pass from the morning to the
fevening sky again. and after a few
weeks II will bid adleu for its long
Journey into the depths space, not
TO return to us again in three -fourths
OF century. -.
AS II rushes by us on May IS II will
pass directly over the disc OF the SUM-
and a fine opportunity will be afforded
to test by observation the size anG
character Of the nucleus. If IT con-
sists OF solid particles of considerable
size, or of dense aggregation, 1t will
be projected as a dark mass against
the bright face Of the sun, but II it Is
l composed of gas only. or OF very small
particles widely diffused. II will pass
across the sun as an invisible mass
IL Is not improbable that the earth at
that time may become involved in the
nehulosity OF It's tail. but the matter
composing the tail is so extremely
tenuous that the earth will in all
pass through 1t without
any sensible effect. The transit of the
comet across the face of the sun will
take place during the night on the
western hemisphere and hence We
could not SEQ IL any way. but astrono-
! >rners on nc opposit, side OF the earth
ENiil douhtiCss observe this pheuome-
non with great care.
The orbit of Halley's comet is a
very elongated eclipse, extending out
into space 5OO.OOO.OOO miles beyond
the orbit of Neptune. At Its perihe-
lion It's distance from the sun Is 54.-
1000, 900 miles. or somewhat less than
the distance of the planet Venus. 1t
makes a revolution around the sun in
about 20 years. though owing to the
disturbing effect Of the larger planets
on its motion, this period mey vary
kone or two years. It's motion in its
orbit Is retrograde; that Is, 1t moves
around the sun I'm an opposite dlrec-
tion to that Of the planets. It's orbit
Is inclined about is degrees to the
plane of the earth's orbit, and these
two orbits are so related that q COL
lision between the earth and the COM
Fet is impossible.
Gaseous Matters.
There is much uncertainty about
the composition of cometary masses,
but the spectroscope shows that the
head Is composed of gaseous matter
involving probably masses OF solid
matter closely grouped together The
tail consists of gas. chiefly hydrogen,
In a state of extreme tenuty The
fact that the tail is always turned
from the sun has led To the theory
that the matter Of which 1T is COM
posed Is driven off from the head by
ySome repulslve force of the sun. Sev-