Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-20
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WILLIAMS BAY Wis, May la-Shattcr-
ing all scientific calculations and com
pletely puzzling astronomers, the glowing
tail Of Halley's comet appeared In the east
| crn sky today at time when the worlds
comet authorities had agreed 1t would be
in the west Such eminent astronomers az
Prof 5. \. Mitchell of Columbia unvorsi-
ties, New York; Prof. Edwin B Frost,
head of the Yerkes observatory staffs and
Prof Edward Barnard OF the University
| of Chicago all agree that the light they
saw in the east was the comets tail. No
adequate explanation however, Is forth
coming.
Prof Mitchell, Prof. Frost and Prof
Barnard say that any of the following
! three explanations may be right.
! First-The curvature OF the comets tall
! first discovered and noted by Prof Bar
nard on Tuesday night may have developed
to a wholly unexpected degree, while the
head Of the comet has passed the earth on
| schedule
Second-Llke Borell's comet of 1909
Halleys comet may have ceased its tail
making activity, cutting off the glowing
fan that is now puzzling the scientists.
|
are wrong and that the comet has not yet
passed the earth.
Facts Greater Than Theories.
AS nearly as could be computed the
period of the appearance of the comets
tail in the east extended from 10:30 o'clock
Wednesday night to $3.50 this morning. 1t
was still plainly visible at time when
the astronomers were confident the earth
would have passed completely through the
tail. After leaving his telescope at day
! break, Prof. Frost issued the following
| statement;
| Greater than all the theories and all
I thee computations aTe the facts. And the
fact is that the tail of Halley's comet has
been appearing in the east IN practically The
same position as 1t appeared yesterday
morning There is no question about that.
The tail which glowed from the horizon
close TO the milky way from before mid
night until dawn has not yet passed across
the earth That is a certainty. In ad-
dtion, it is also certain that there is no
material diminUtion In the size OF this
tail as compared with the tail Of the day
| before.
| I'VE are confident that the calculations
for the passage of the head OF the comet
between the sun and the earth are correct.
! Unquestoned astronomical Authorities
working independently of each other in all
parts of the world, arrived at these calcu-
lations which have been corrected in de-
tail ever since the comet passed Venus on
May q
I'VE are also confident that the head
of the comet made the transit as per
schedule. But the mystery OF the appear
ance of the tail in the east this morning
is the great puzzle. 1t can not be ex-
planned satisfactorily at this time"
Des MOines Sees 1t In East.
DES MONIES, Ia, May '19.-Professor
d. w. Morehouse, head of the astronomical
department of Drake university, was as
founded when he discovered the tail of
Halley's comet in the east at 2:45 this
morning For a half hour he and his
classes discussed the unlooked-for sight
Professor Morehouse was also surprised
because the tail tapered to point instead
of assuming the fan shape as heretofore.
1t is Professor Warehouses; theory that
the earth may have passed through a por-
ton Of the tail and doubts whether the
earth will strike the main appendage be-
cause of the curvature which heretofore
he had not thought existed,
Curved Away from Earth.
! PRINCETON, n. j.. May ls.-The earth
comet at the time scheduled by astrono-
mers, according to Prof. Henry Norris
Russell Of Princeton and zaccheus Daniel,
the discoverer of three comets, but was
several hours late in making the journey.
| This failure of the comet to be on time
they said today, was due 10 tho fact that
! the tail had developed pronounced curve
! and it was long after sunup IN this section
OF the country before tho passage OF the
earth through the comets appendage.
Prof. Russell at 2;45 a. m. noticed a dis
tlnct streak Of light in the east that re-
sembled the milky way. lie then camo
to the conclusion that the earth had not
passed through the comets tail because
the tail was curved away from us and that
the sun would be we'll above the horizon
when the passage was made. At that time.
he said, the head OF the comet had passed
/ the disc of the sun and was we'll on the
other side of the sun, Shortly after a m.
the light in the east disappeared and Prof.
Russell said It was possible for the inhab-
itants of Hawaii and possibly the astrono.
mers at Lick observatory in California to
detect in the darkness the passage Of the
earth through the tail,
Prof. Russell added that the reason why
most astronomers had not been able 20
tell that the tail was curved was because
they mad been looking at the tail edge.
| wise.
Mr. Daniel said today that he also no.
ticed the light in the east shortly before
3 a. m and also suggested that the earth
| had not passed through the tail OF the
comet because Of the curvature OF the ap.
pendage. lie believes the passage would
make the curve more pronounced,
The time at which the earth made the
passage, he said, could not be 0scertancd
at Princeton because the arch OF the curve
was not known there.
MI Daniel explained that II was not un-
usual for comet tails to be curved ana called
attention 10 the fact mat the comet OF
January, 1910 had distinct curved tail,