The Washington times., 1910-05-24
WINKS, THEN
MOON HIDES FACE
Filtration In the Sky Watch
ed BY President From
Naval Observatory.

With weather and atmospheric condi-
tons anyways similar to those Of last
night the comet may be seen more
clearly tonight by the naked eye than at
any previous time.
The moon is rapidly waning and Will
be in such a position that its rays of
light will tend less toward dimming the
luminosity Of the comet than at any
other time.
Shortly after sunset. or TO be exact, at
7:45 tonight the comet can first be seen.
1t will appear in the west some distance
above the horizon and about half that
distance to the south Of where the sun
sets
Prof. Hall, Of the Naval Observa-
tory, says It viii be az It's best from 8
o'clock until $50. when It will exude a
yellowish glare from the head and ap-
pendage.
Astronomers and members Of comet
parties were afforded the opportunity
OF Witnessing a double treat The COM
ct was plainly visible for an hour OF
longer.
Eclipse of Moon.
The second attraction, which We'd with
Halley's comet IN being the cynOsure
Of spectators, was an eclipse of the
moon by the earth.
The comet first came into view short
" before 1880 O'Clock In the West, just
above the horizon and little TO the
south OF where the sun had SCI. House
tops, roofs OF apartments and office
buildings, the Naval Observatory,
Georgetown Observatory. vacant lots
and the Aqueduct bridge were points Of
vantage from which great crowds OF
Washingtonians watched the comet and
the moons eclipse.
Many members Of both houses OF Con-
gress watched the glowing of the comet
through the five telescopes which have
been temporarily installed In the Sen
ate and House wings and the rOtunda
balcony at the Capitol. A half score or
more formed a party which remained
through the entire production, -
from the rising Of the comet, at $50
until the moon had passed from the
earth's shadow. at 2:2l this morning.
The best view OF the comet was had
u degrees long It was at this time that
a photograph Of thirteen-minutes' expos
ure was taken OF the phenomena by an
astronomer at the Naval Observatory.
The comet began TO disappear about
1880 o'clock and was hard 10 discern by
scheduled 20 attract the attention Of
watchers.
At 1915 o'clock the earth's shadow be-
gan 20 fall upon the moon and BY 12!OS
the satellite was covered. excepting for
a slight arc 1T the lower edge. The
shedow WAS not quite as dense as has
beer noted in ecliDses Of the sun, being
more of a filmy. smoky nature Ow-
ing to the absolute clearness Of the sky
an exceptionally good opportunity was
afforded astronomers 20 study H.
President Watches Phenomena.
Among those who saw the comet at
the Naval Observatory were the PresI-
dent and Mrs. Taft and a party OF
friends. The Executive party left the
White House in a large touring car
shortly after 9 o'clock They arrived at
the Naval Observatory about 9:2S and
remained until $50.
During the time they spent in the OBJ
servation room every one got an ex-
cellent view of the comet and IT'S tail
The President was as full OF questions
as boy at a circus. and before he left
was given enough statistics by Prof.
Asaph Hall on the comet. the moon,
Jupiter, Gamma Virgins. and other i'm
portant satellites TO last him for some
time.