The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-02-15

April. ard on May 18th, It's I'M
m>nse Tai Will Sweep Over the
Earth-Astronomers Say This VIII
10 No Damage to Neither Earth
Nor Inhab itants-Haliey : Garnet
and Its Associations-Tho Zodiacal
Light.
Prof. J. F. Lanneau. of Wake For
est College, one of the ~best-known
astronomers in the State, gives
an interesting interview On Halley's
comet, which will soon make it's APP
p~earance. He tells Of its appearances
in the past and the interesting events
associated with them.
Prof. also tells OF the
new comet, and of the zodiacal light,
which has been taken by many for
the tail OF the comet which has just
disappeared, moving rapidly from the
earth and from the sun.
H~alley's comet, the most interesting
OF all comets and the one that al
WAYS filed the hearts of the people
OF the middle ages with terror. Will
become NlS1D4c 10 luS ktdhSo CJC
about the first Of April. During April
ana the first half Of May, it will be
visible in the east just before sum
rise and after that time will be seen
in the western skies just after SUM-
set, and will make a fine display.
On May Is the tail of the Immense
comet viii completely enVelop the
earth.
\ Periodic Comet.
Hal!ey's comet is q periodic comet,
making its appearance every seventy
six Years. 1t derived its name from
the great astronomer, Sir Eimun
HALEY. who observed it when 1t APP
pearei in 1652 and had the courage
to predict its r~eappearance, fixing
1853 IS the date. Sure enough IN
1853 it r~e4ppeared, being visible for
sometime, ANA again in 1895; and al
readT il can again be seen by the
and is moving rapidly
towards the earth.
Is it an u! Omen?
Is Hailey's comet an III omen?
Does il have anything to do with
the h~appenings on the earth? This
is q question that has puzzled the
minds of men for two thousand years.
HaIley's comet (not SO named UNI
til i6S2) has appeared twenty-elght
times during the past 2,l50 years, and,
{ : ~ AA@@ <Nb~'
events have tr~anspired under 1t. 1t
is stated that it was visible in the
year 10 A. d, when Jerusalem was
destroyed by Titus. 1t was visible
in 1856, three years after the Turks
conquered Constantinople. and when
they were again about to terrorize
Christendo1n. It's appearance has
never since equalled hat Of 1856, but
It is supposed that il will do so this
time.
This comet is the one that was
visible in 1066 a. d, during the Nor
man Conquest and az hat time it
was called the comet Of William
the Conqueror" for the want of g
better name. 1t was visible G
tie French lost Canada to England
in the first half Of 1852.
Coming nearer home, it is said that
Ialley's comet was visible in 1907,
when jamestown was settled by John
Smith, and in 1885. not long after
the notification act was passed by
South Carolina.
Tail to Envelop Earth.
The tail Of this immense comet will
enVelOp the earth about May f8, when
the star will pass between the earth
and the sun. The result OF this
immersion remain to be seen. II
may be that the people will witness
a brilliant meteoric display or il
may be that the aurora borealis will
be seen in the northern skies.
According to PROT. Ianneau the
comets tail will ave no effect what
ever on the earth or its inhabitants.
The head OF q comet. says Prof.
LanneaU cannot obscure the sun, as
It is not solid. The solid matter Is
the head OF the largest comet thai
ever appeared, he says would not. ii
condensed, amount to az much as
one o~ne-hundred t~IloueauGth part of
the matter OF earth.
4 Brilliant Spectacle.