The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-05-12
HALLEYS COMET
IS NOW THE
CHIEF TOPIC
PLYMOUTH PEOPLE ARE
GETTING THE ALARM
CLOCK AND RUBBER
NECK HABIT.
Was Plainly Visible in Eastern
Sky During Recent Number
of Clear Nights.

of Clear Nights.
a number of Plymouth resi-
clock Saturday a. m. were disap-
clock this morning were disap-
pointed in being unable to, locate
the comet, which was scheduled
for appearance about that time.
\ number OF star gazers who
arose earlier, were lucky, and pro-
nounce the sight interesting, and
worth while. The comet was
most plain Saturday at 2 so a m.
The Michigan street river
bridge is good point from
which to view the wonder accord
ing to locals, who have arisen
via alarm clock and betaken
themselves to that point OF van
tage. The come is quite low in
the eastern sky and SO clear
view must be had.
Astronomical history will be
made within a few weeks when
the much talked of Halley's comet
passes between the earth and the
sun and at the same time swishes
this planet with its nebulous tail.
This important event is scheduled
TO take place on May Is and as
tronomers throughout the world
are making extensive preparations
to make good photographs and
gather all the information posi-
bic on this heavenly wanderer,
as it is not scheduled to reappear
until IS years hence.
On the date of its last appear
ance in 1888 the art of photo
graphing heavenly bodies was
unknown and future generations
had to be content with sketches
made by astronomers who OBJ
served the phenomena.
The opportunity to photograph
this comet, however will be usu-
al as it will be only 100000
miles from the earth on May IS.
lit will cross the suns disk during
the forenoon and will be visible
in the west shortly after sunset
for several days later, finally pass
ing out of sight on its long jour
ney away from the sum-.
What will happen when we
pass through the tail of the
comet? According TO the infor-
nation furnished by the leading
astronomers, there is nothing to
be feared. AT this time the tail
will be about 100000 miles,
long and the head OF the comet
will he! 12,000,O00 imiles away
from the earth. The tail Is said
to- be made OF thin, harmless gases
much lighter than the air we
breathe, and it is very probable
that it will not be noticeable.
Contact in Forenoon.
AS the contact will take place
in the forenoon it will certainly
not be noticeable on this side OF
the earth where it will be broad
day light, and as the other side
will be screened from a direct
encounter it will probably not be
seen there. AS the comets tail
extends millions of miles beyond
the earth however it is extremely
likely that to the inhabitants of the
|anipodes may be seen some
evidence of it in the night sky.
Were the earth and the head
of the comet to come in contact,
however it would be more seri-
|ous but there is no likelihood OF
this, as the earth will have safely
passed that point in its orbit by
the time the comet reaches it.
OF all the comets which have
appeared from time to time Hal
ley's is the most interesting and
is the oldest one which we have 2
corded, as early as IL BE. Unlike
record, its appearance being re-
corded as tarly as II B. c., Unlike
other comets this heavenly trav-
eler has a closed orbit, of which
it makes complete circuit every
- years.
The discovery of this fact was
responsible for its name. 1t was
in 1852 that Edmund HALEY an
Englishman, made the announce
nent that comets move in closed
orbits after "a great deal of re-
search in similar orbits and con-
cluded that these were one and
the same.
Announced Comets Dates.
When he had satisfied himself
as to his discovery he announced
that the comet would appear in
the latter part OF 1853 or the be-
ginning on 1859. Although he had
been dead number of years, the
astronomical world awaited with
considerable curiosity the result
of his prediction, and when on
Christmas OF 1858 it appeared was
Immediately chrisiened Halley'S
comet. 1t appeared next in 1888.
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