Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-03-31
FACTS ABOUT HALLEY'S COMET

A few facts presented in a condensed
form may possibly interest the readers
of the Scientific American who wish to
follow the course Of Halley's comet in
the heavens during Its present appear
ance.
The last perihelion passage occurred
on November 18th, 1885. The present
perihelion passage will occur IN April
Goth, 1910. The perihelion distance will
be O,5S7, and the aphelion distance will
be $3.50. The eccentricity is O.967, the
longitude of ascending node is 81 deg.
16 min, the node and apsis angle is Ill
deg. AZ min, the inclination of the orbit
is (162. u min. II II deg. As min. =, the
longitude of perihelion is 305 deg. +
and the motion is %retrograde, i'll other
words opposite to that of the planet.
The diameter of the nucleus cannot of
course be stated with anything like
accuracy at the present time, but it is
not likely to exceed 100000 miles.
AT the end of February Prof. Barnard
of Yerkes Observatory estimated the tail
to be 100000 miles long. Just before
and after perihelion passage the tail will
be at least that long, and probably long
or. The comet is fast approaching it's
perihelion point, or point nearest the
sun, where, as we have said, it is due to
arrive on April Goth. During the months
of February and March, the earth and
the comet are racing on practically
parallel orbits, II, 100000 miles apart on
opposite sides of the sun.
The comet first crossed the earth's
orbit about March 10th at a point where
the earth will arrive at the middle of
next October, but far above where the
earth will be, so to speak, for it will be
some 100000 miles above the plane of
the ecliptic. In April the comet will
emerge from behind the sun, and will
become visible to the naked eye in the
eastern sky before sunrise.
On April Goth, when the comet will
swing around the sun, it will be ST.
100000 miles away from the sun. Its
velocity will be 26 miles a second. The
earth travels at about 10 miles a second.
On May End the comet will traverse the
orbit of Venus, some 100000 miles
above the planet. In other. words, an
astronomer on Venus would find the
comet a far more impressive spectacle
than a terrestrial astronomer. AS it
rushes on, Halley's comet will pass be-
tween the earth and the close TO its
ascending node. On May 18th the earth
will be about 100000 miles away from
the nucleus or head, as against 100000
miles IN 1885. Moreover, on May 18th
the earth will be enveloped in the
comets tail for a few hours. A few days
later the comet will be visible in the
western sky after sunset with a Is deg
or 20 deg. %splendor. After that it will
speed away from the solar system. The
last glimpse of it with the naked eye
will be obtained probably at the end OF
June. 1t will not reappear for seventy
five year.
Halley's comet is noteworthy because
it was the first comet for which an orbit
was plotted and a time table calculated
It has a history more or less identified
with the history of human thought anc
civilization. The superstitious dreac
with which it was regarded in medieva
and ancient times swayed many
monarch. 1t was instrumental in form
ing the policies of Louis le Debonnairt
in 837. 1t blazed in the sky when tn,
Turks threatened to oyerrun Europe il
l456, and when the Reformation was a
its beigut in 1881. 1t struck terror tt
the Saxons under Harold in 1906, whel
they were conquered by William O
Normandy. This fear of the middle
ages was dlspelIed only when Halle,
made his great prediction in 1852 tina
the comet would return in 1853, a predic
ton which was verified after the grea
astronomer was in his grave.
A comet which has renppeared regu
larly for over two thousand years mus
be composed of fairly enduring stuff
Just what its composition may be, th
present temperance will for the frs
time enable US to tell, for in 1885 tn
spectroscope was not invented, nor as
Economical photography perfected
Scientific American.