The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-12
FIREWORKS PROMISED
IF COMETS COLLIDE
Member of Brooklyn Institute
Astronomical Society Pro
diets Spectacle.

While scientists have been discuss
ing the probable effets of = oollision
between the sun and HaIley's comet
or the result OF this earth's passing
through the gaseous tail OF the comet,
q new phase Of the situation IL dis
cussed by b. G. Way. member Of
the Brooklyn Institute Astronomical
society. Mr.. Way discusses the prob
ability of q collision between Halley's
comet and thE new comet that was
discovered by scientists in the western
sky a few weeks ago. From his cal
culaAons he thinks the new comet,
which Is on its return path. VIII either
approach the great comet Of HALEY,
perhaps near enough for them to at.
tract mutually or will collide with that
comet with an effect thai can be
imagined perhaps. but not described
Mr.. Way says. 1t In possible that
Halley's comet and the new comet
may collide. Who knows bug that we
may be on the eve OF witnessing q
celestial event anch as never before
has been seen or heard7 The great
comet OF HALEY IL now coursinE Its
way across the heavens toward the
sun. Under present conditions X will
reach the point nearest the sun on
April ~ at about midnight. ana from
that point viii sweep in graceful
curve around the central lnmtnRrY and
continue on its outward journey to-
ward aphelion. II Ia scheduled tn re-
turn In 1885"
Several weeks ago there appeared
nnannoused in the western sky new
comet. No comet was expected In
the quarter where the newcomer APP
peared. and astronomers keep re-
cord OF all comets and can generally
predict the time and the quarter Tor
their temperance. But though the
newcomer startled the whole scien-
tito world. scientists have already
learned something OF this comet. They
know It had passed the periheiton
before It was discovered. The comet
must have either q pArabolic or hy-
periodic orbit. II the former. the
comet came from outer space In .
straight line, was attracted by our
sun. and ID sweeping around II with
just enough velocity 20 that any dis
turbing influence such A. might come
from the planets would change its
orbit into an elliptical one, which
would make 1t a prisoner Of the solar
systcm and would cause Its periodic
return. II the comet has = hyper
boltc orbit, It Will sweep around the
sun at such a fearful rate that II
would pass into outer space never to
return.
In either style of orbit the incom-
ing and outgoing path for this comet
would be far apart Astronomers
have learned that the comet has
swept around the sun at q distance
of three and half million miles.
which close proximity to the sun may
be realized when It II compared with
the distance of ifty-four million
miles from the sun of the periheiion
of Halleys comet. The close ap-
proach of the new comet Indicates
that its velocity must have been tre-
mendous to have escaped being drawn
down into the sun.
The new comet entered the solar
system and rushed around the sun
in the direction taken by all the
is. from west to east
but aalley's comet 10 rushing from
east to west AZ Halley's comet ts
toward the sun and the other |
comet Is moving away from the sun.
and they are going In opposite direC- |
tons. It is evident that they are near |
Ing each other, and will pass at some |
point In their respective Journeys. |
Now, they will pass as two trains |
pass on a double-track railroad. or |
viii they try the never-successful ex-
pertinent Of two trains passing on |
the same track? Scientists have no |
reason for thinking the two comets |
will pass on the same orbit. but 1t 10
certain they. will DO either above and |
below one another or on the same |
grade as they pass.
Both comets, including their tails, |
are many million miles long. II they
cross on the Same grade nothing can
prevent their fiery tails c0lltdin9 and
ringling, with perhaps disastrous re-
yults. even II their heads avoid ooiIi- |
hon. But as the attraction between
I'll ceiesttal objects II proportionsd I
10 their masses. II II not unlikely
hat the comets may exert this mutual |
iogether. ana the earth and inhahi-
attraction. 10 that they Win b. drawn
ants hsracf treated to q wonarVu6
lpectacie. Brool<lyu T1msa