Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-16
.HALLEY'S FL|ER TO
RAIN METEOR|TES
FROM ITS TAIL
wal Observatory Scientist Pre-
diets an Impressive Display
of Fireworks
THEIRS EXPECTING NOTHING
istIing Battery of Telescopes
Trained on Growing Bril-
lance of Comet
[Assoclated Pressl

HT ASHINGTON, May 15.-Halley's
w comet will be greeted Wednes-
day on it's closest approach to
the earth by a bristling battery of tel
escapes flanked by rapid-fire lenses In
the celestial cameras of the naval OBJ
servatory. Elaborate calculations have
been made as to the minute and sec
ond the comet will be at given place
in the heavens, where it will be OBJ
served and photographed.
Among the scientists there is some
difference of opinion as to the effect
the great star will have upon the
earth, but the differences are minor.
Professor Asaph Hall of the naval
observatory would not be surprised If
there we're a shower Of meteorites. He
advanced his theory with the same
shower of rain.
Others, and they appear in the ma
jority, expect no disturbances. Edwin
f. Naulty of New York takes issue
with Professor Hall, and contends that
the tail of the comet is composed
neither of gas nor of meteoric bodies,
and that such a shower as Professor
Hall deems possible could not follow.
1.-The tail of Halley's comet, to all
intents and purposes, Is ceiestial
searchlight," said Mr. Naulty today.
1.-THE tail is nothing more than sun
light condensed from radiant solar en-
ergy and processed through the solar
system, exactly as q lens focuses, con-
denses and transmits light"
He says the tail of the comet is not
composed of gas, or Of minute particles
of matter, or of meteoric bodies.
The entire solar system, Mr.. Naulty
says, is filed with gases in varying
states of density. All these gases, pol
sonous and non-poisonous, are present
in the earth's atmosphere in dense
form.
CAUSE OF CHANGING SPECTRUM
The changing spectrum of Halley's
comet, according to Mr.. Naulty' S
theory, is due to the fact that as the
comets great tail" of light sweeps
through various parts of the solar sys-
tenn 1t light up differing layers. of gases,
conveying the impression the tail itself
it gaseous.
Mr.. Naulty says the spectrum of re-
fiected sunlight is always present in
head and tail of the comet, thus prov
ing that both parts of 1t are made vis-
ible by sunlight alone.
of solar force does cause disturbance
in the solar SYSTEM" said Mr.. Naulty.
1.-THE earth and all the planets are af-
fected, not only when they come within
the actual cone, as the earth will do on
Wednesday, but also by the ethereal
waves set in motion by the comets tail.
1t is the constant attempt of the earth
and its atmosphere to adjust them
selves to this disturbance that has
caused the prevalent earth tremors,
storms and other phenomena.
THE climax will be reached this week.
There will be no collision of the earth
and comet, nor will the earth be en-
veloped in poisonous gases. The effect
of the passage may be to cause great
condensation of atmospheric vapors, so
that automatically the earth will be
provided with a sort of shield which
will be like a lead screen used to pro-
tect X-ray operators.
when the comet approaches nearest
the earth on May is, the moon will be
full and the conflict of her rays will
make observations of the comet more
difficult than If there were no opposi-
ton.
"At the naval observatory the scien-
lists have been watching the comet
through powerful telescopes every
morning just before sunrise, when it is
brightest. The observers each day can
note the broadening of the tail and the
enlargement of the head. The heaven
ly body will increase in apparent size
and brilliancy until Wednesday, when
1T will begin to decrease, and in a few
weeks will disappear into space, not to
be seen again for nearly century"