The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-05-20
Mass of Meteorites In Its Head.

az tNlliSc IL SAaidStti-
Mass of Meteorites In Its Head.
SO il would be if the comets head
were solid. like the moon; but, though
we are convinced that there is solid
matter in it, being probably made up
of mass of meteorites held together
by their mutual attraction, still We
know II to be much more largely gas
eous in its nature and shall have TO
wait and see whether 1t be sufficiently
opaque TO darken the sun or whether
II is so transparent that the sun can
shine right through II as though q
thin cloud.
With a telescope having an object
glass Of fifteen inches In diameter a
body Of seventy miles In diameter at
the distance Of the comet would show
black against the sun, and with high
er power one Of ten miles diameter
would do the same. But It may be
that those most favorably situated
geographically will see Just nothing at
all. In all history there Is but one re-
corded case Of comet transiting
the suns face, that Of the great comet
Of 1850. When II reached the sun It
disappeared entirely. And It seems
likely, therefore, that In the present IN
stance the sun viii be darkened but
little, II at all. Yet all comets are not
siike. and some spectacle altogether
unsuspected may present itself to the
admiring gaze Of all beholders.
Earth, comet and sun being in one
perfectly straight line at the time OF
transit, were the comets tall straight
the earth would be involved IN It at
the same moment since II sweeps back
from the sun into space. no matter
which way the comet Is travelling
But the tail is curved SO that II will
come sweeping upon the earth posi-
bly, few hours later, and by that
time the relations Of the two bodies
will 80 have changed by reason OF
their swift passing that we shall not
pass through the middle Of the tail.
where ii would measure at least 1000
600 miles across. but through a por-
ton where a smaller distance must
be traversed in order to make our exit
The Question Of Danger,
The first question is, of course. that
Of danger VIII the earth and all
things therein be destroyed, as the go
600 inhabitants Of 81. Pierre were laid
fumes Of Mount Pelee? Our answer
is that If the earth should Craze the
comets head possibly its vapors would
so fill our atmosphere that nothing
could thereafter live. But at point
In the tail 100000 miles from that
head we are perfectly safe, as we
should be indeed half or one-fourth
that distance. The comets tail Is lit
orally next TO nothing. The little that
II is will not affect our atmosphere in
any unpleasant or harmful way. There
Is as much danger in a searchlight or
a rainbow and infinitely more in the
fumes Of the chimneys and automo-
blles Of a city. II is true that II IS Of
A gaseous nature, but so extremely thin
that the faintest stars can be seen
through a million miles Of its volume
The next question pertains TO the
spectacle If the transit may prove
INVISIBLE, will the plunge through the
all prove equally so? 1t may, for in
1919 the earth went through comets
all without any one knowing it. and
n 1861 ii did the same, though 1t was
afterward that a strange
lurora-like appearance had been OBJ
served ar the time. certain yellow
less Of sky, which was even thought
worthy Of record, though It's connec.
ion with the comet had not been sus
,ected 1t is not unlikely that we
hall have an experience somewhat
Ike that In the morning Of May Is.
'efore sunrise. the tail is likely to be
cen extending from the eastern TO-
yard the western horizon. In the
vening Of the 10th, after sunset, the
all is likely to be seen extending from
be western toward the eastern hori- |
on, but late during the night Of the |
9Th the entire heavens are likely to |
q seen carrying a faint and peculiar |
Alliance, due TO the fact that we are |
hundreds Of thousands Of |
lilies In the comets tail The chief |
hing 10 initiate against the spectacle
ill be the moon, which that night is
sn days old and will not set till 2:45
, the morning But inasmuch as the
ocular sky radiance In 1851 was seen
ven In the daytime we may hope that
air Luna will be good enough, since
be Is generously granted half the
lights OF each month, not to spoil the
iarvels Of 30 extraordinary an occa-
on as this.
When this great day Of the comet
as passed it will be seen for some
me, night after night, In the western
~ after sunset-first at about its lar
EST then rapidly growing smaller as
retreats into the depths OF space
I'D becomes once more invisible, not
gain TO charm the eye, awaken the
onder and stir the awe OF mankind
it'll most Of US have been long for
1ttep In our bnrphlo ,yrarao