The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-05-16
SAFE FROM THE BIC
COMET
No DANGER FROM TAIL, BUT THE
-
HEAD MAY SCORCH THE
EARTH WHEN 1T PASSES ON
MAY IS.

When Halley's comet, on May 49,
passes between the earth and sun,
and the earth, during the time the
comet is transmitting the suns disk,
is swept by the celestial searchlight
there will be no danger to the earth
from the tall of diffused sunlight
but there may be danger from the
focal point as it sweeps across rays
of sunlight whihc it condenses.
The gaseous head of the comet
anywhere from IL to 20 times the
size of the earth, acting as great
lens, must bring to focal point
point somewhere in space the rays OF
of sunlight which 1t condenses.
If this focal point should reach the
earth's surface it would sweep a path
of fiery destruction along the zone 1t
travelled. Yet, as the comet and the
earth are moving in opposite direc-
lions and the earth's speed is, rough
ly, $4,000 miles an hour, that of the
comet being about 10000 miles an
hour, the time Of passage of this TO-
cal point over the earth's surface
could not be more than six hours nor
cover more than 80 degrees of longi-
tude, or a distance Of one-quarter of
the earth's circumference.
Fortunately there are few centers
of population in the zone traversed,
says Golfers. Mexico City and Bonn
bay, India, are almost in line, but the
only heavily inhabited regions are
those of India, Siam, AMMAN, Luzon
and Hawaii. This does not mean that
any of these places are to be de-
stroyed by the flaming focal point OF
the comet. Far from it. The comet
would have to be many times its pres
ent size, much nearer the earth and
of greater density to be able to con-
dense sunlight in the manner in
which, by using lens of glass, the
localized rays of sunlight may be
made to volatilize metals.
May Increase the Light.
From the rays of sunlight forming
the tail OF the comet there is no dan
ger to the earth. The only effect OF
these, as light, will be to cause an
extra brilliant day or light night. But
in the extra rays of invisible solar
force, transmitted to the earth by the
comet, may be cause for earth ire
mors, storms and other phenomena
The passage Of every comet be-
tween the earth and sun is always &C.
companied by such disturbances.
Compared to a Watch.
II we compare the solar system to
a watch, Of which the sun is the main
spring and the planets the works, II
is quite evident that any abnormal
body entering this solar watch would
be bound to disturb it's regular mo-
ton, and this disturbance would de
pend solely on the size and density
of the abnormal body. The compari
son is crude, since it refers only tt
motion, and it is we'll established
fact that comets have no effect on the
motion of the earth on it's axis or or
bit.
Ordinarily the earth receives onl!
an infinitesimal amount of the en-
ergy radiated from the sun, but i
between the sun and the earth is in
terposed a rapidly moving sphere o
gas. acting as lens, and capable o
focusing extra solar force on it, it Il
quite evident that the earth must ad
Just itself to absorb this extra force
in some manner. The atmosphere
vapors may do 1t by condensing int
clouds, haze, or fog. thus shieldin,
the earth from the extra light rays
but if the invisible solar force ray
pass through the earth as X-ray
through Opaque substances, the onl.
adjustment possible to the earth i
Encouragement of it's molecula
parts equaling in energy the extr'
solar energy in which the earth i
temporarily bathed. Thus come tn
earth tremors and quakes, aurcras
disturbances of the atmospheric shell
resulting in storms, fogs, strong wind
magnetic and electrical disturbances
and an unusually sensitive chemica
condition in which potentially explos
i've compounds, having their Sigh
stability upset, blow up without ap
parent cause.
Small to Lecture Again.