The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-16
WEDNESDAYS CLIMAX TO
BE CLOSELY OBSERVED

WASHINGTON, May 15,-Halley's
comet will be greeted Wednesday on its
closest approach to the earth by hrist-
ling battery OF telescopes flanked by
rapid fire lenses IN tho celestial towers
OF the naval observatory.
Elaborate calculations have been made
as to the minute and second the comet
where II will be observed and photo
graphed
Among the scientists there is some diff
ference OF opinion as to the effect the
visitor will have upon the earth, but the
differences arc minor. Professor AsaDh
Hall OF the naval observatory would not
be surprised II there were shower Of
meteortcs. He advanced his theory with
the same calmness he would prohpeSy a
shower of rain.
Others, and they appear in The ma
jority, expect no disturbances Edward
F. Neulty OF New York takes issue with
Professor Hall and contends the tail OF
the comet is composed neither OF gas nor
OF meteoric bodies and that such q shower
as Professor Hall deems possible could
not follow.
The tall Of Halley's comet. TO all in
tents and purposes. Is u celestial search
light said Iir. Naulty today. The tail
is nothing more than sunlight condensed
from radiant solar energy and processed
through the solar system, precisely as a
light"
Ie says tho tail Of the comet is not
composed Of gas or or minute particles of
matter or OF meteorlc bodies.
Theory Of Formation.
The entire solar system, Mr.. Naulty
says, is filled with gases in varying states
| and non-poisonous. are present In the
| earth's atmosphere in dense form, The
changing spectrum of Halley'S comet, ac-
! cording TO Mr., Naulty's theory, is due TO
| OF light sweeps through various parts OF
the solar system, 1t lights up different
| layers Of gases, conveying the impress
| sion tho tail Itself is gaseous Mr. Maui
| ty says the spectrum OF reflected sun
flight is always present In head and tall
OF the comet thus proving that both parts
| of il arc made visible by sunlight alone.
The sweeping of this cometary cone OF
| solar force does cause disturbance in The
| solar SYSTEM said Mr.. Naulty. THE
earth and all the planets are affected, not
| only when they come within the actual
| cone. as the earth will do on Wednesday,
| but also by the ethereal waves set In mo-
| ton by the comets tail. it is the con-
stunt attempt OF the carth's mass and
| It's atmosphere to adjust themselves to
| this disturbance that has caused the
| prevalent earth tremors, storms and other
phenomenon.
The climax will be reached this weoll,
| There win be no collision OF the oarth
and tho comet, nor VIII tho earth be en-
0eloped in poisonous gases. The effect
| OF the passa 90 may be To cause great con
| densation of atmospheric vapors 50 that
| automatically the earth will be provided
| with sort Of shield which viii be Ike
Il lead screen TO protect N-ray opcr-
| ators
When the comet approaches nearest
| the earth on May is. the moon viii he
| fun and the conflict of her rays viii
make observations of the comet moro
difficult than If there were no opposi-
| tiOn.
AT the naval observatory tho scien-
| fists have been watching the comet
through powerful telescopes every morn
| ing Just before sunrise. when II Is bright
ost The observers each day can note the
broadening OF the tail and the enlarge
menr OF the head. The heavenly body
win Increase in apparent size and brill
liancy until Wednesday when II Will be-
gin TO decrease and In few weeks VIII
disappear into space. not 10 be seen
! again for nearly century"