New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-17
THROUGH A COMETS TAIL
Earth's Contact with the HALEY
Appendage in the Middle.
BE CALM ON WEDNESDAY
Scientists Give Assurance of
Harmlessness of Whisk of
Great Wanderer.

As Halley's comet approaches nearer and
nearer TO the earth the interest is growing
more and more intense. Comet parties on
the roofs OF hotels, apartment houses and
private houses, as we'll as gatherings on
bridges. high buildings and many other
places of vantage, give evidence of wide
spread curiosity.
One superstitious italian appealed in ter
ror TO his priest who assured him that the
earth would not be burned UP by the comet
Many persons. who never heard of cyanoger
before the comet appeared, and didn't know
whether to believe the gas would suffocate
them or not, were relieved by the state
rnents of scientists that such fears were
groundless.
Earth Cuts Middle of Tail.
The comet rose this morning at S:i5 a. m
The head will be nearest the earth or
Wednesday at II 20 p. m. when it will be
l43000Oo miles distant from US. AS the
length of the tail at that time, in the
opinion of Professor S. A. Mitchell, OF
Columbia, will be approximately 25,0oo,0V
miles long, the earth will be not far from
the centre of the tail, instead of near the
end of the TAIL as has been previously said
when the comet brushes by. After May II
the comet may be seen after sunset.
In a lecture on the comet at the Museum
of Natural History last evening, Professor
Mitchell said that although ''Halley's comet
is interesting it is not as large as the comes
of 1911. nor is it's volume nearly as great as
that of the comet of 1922, which measured
10, 100000 miles across the head and had a
tail ll0,ooo,00o miles long
Some Freakish Comets.
here have been more freakish comets
than Hauey's, said Professor Mitchell, there
being a record of one with six tails. He
then showed on the stereopticon screen
drawings which were made before astro-
nomical photography was used. One OF an
elaborate sword was artists idea OF
Haliey's comet as it appeared when 1t huns
over Europe in 1456 during the great con-
fiict between Turks and Christians and was
thought to be symbol of the triumph o.
Christianity. Another comet looked like
college society pin" as Professor MItchei
expressed it THE finest view OF any
comet" he continued, was had in 1855, a
date which the men may remember, but
which the women, l suppose, will not.
Speaking of comets tails, Professor
Mitchell said that the tail always points
away from the sun. The l6tesC LiicolS
which applies to Halley's comet, is that the
head of comet pointing toward the sur
is heated, with the result that particles OF
matter are thrown off from the head; the
heavier particles are drawn back to the
head the particles, which are small as a
wave length of light, are formed into the
tail by the pressure of the suns rays OF
light, this pressure of the light waves being
sufficient to overcome gravity and drive the
particles away from the sun
Nothing to that Tail.
The weight of HaIley's comet, according
TO Professor Mitchell. must be less than
one-one hundred thousandth part. of the
earth Although the volume of the tail is
enormous, if il could be compressed, II
could be put in lady's handbag. 1t is moi
dissipated because it's path is not obstruct.
ed. He ended his address with reference
to tfss record of the comet. which extends
from $40 B. c., saying that the variation
in its temperance was due to the pull
of other comets