Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-17

mT' mStCdiIy the WCIi NnOW0 dSITOIl-
omer of this city, whose observations
have been accepted by officials of Har-
ward observatory.
If Halley's comet misses us tomorrow
1t will not have a chance to bump into
US for another rs years = and how
many of us are worrying now over
what may happen then?
Even If the two bodies come to-
gether, why should we feel concerned?
We should all go together, and the trip
might therefore be expected to have
many advantages over the solitary ex-
petition that is usually the fate of
mankind. Even If our dearest enemies
are in the bunch with the rest, the
chances are they would let US alone
while in transit, and we, of course, do
not anticipate that they would wind
up at the same destination.
Philosophical1y considered, however,
there is no occasion for dread, nothing
to be gained by dread, any more than
there would be in threatened seismic
disturbances. cyclones or tornadoes. or
thunder or lightning, or frost, or any
thing that is beyond the power of man
10 IorDld or prevent.
OF course, there would be drawbacks.
We should not see the ball team for
some time, and we are not sure that
Dick Kinsella would be able to pass
the big gate. In that case, there would
be no Springfield team, and that would
break up the league.
The legislative bribery case would be
left unfinished, King Edward would re-
main unburied, and Roosevelt would
have to forego the welcome on his
return to America incidentally, also
Richard Ballinger would go unvindi-
Gated. and the tariff would be left in
terrible fix
However, these would all be minor
matters-if Halleys comet should hit
the earth.
Agree 1t Is Impossible.
According to the view that the
scientists take of it, the possibility of
a collision is very remote-variously
estimated at from 100000 to 14,GO0,-
900 miles away, at the very inside
The comet and earth are that far apart
today, and are not moving. toward each
other, either. Tomorrow they will pass,
with the comet going between this little
orb and the sun. After tomorrow they
will be steadily moving apart, and by
the middle of the next century they
will be 3,276,000,00 miles apart-as
many miles as there are dollars in
Rockefeller's reputed fortune. Just
think of thati
Leaving the scientists out of it al
together, common sense tells US that,
with the old earth on the job first, and
attending 20 its own business for
these millions of years since
time was, 1t is not likely that
it would suffer any homeless tramp to
come along and knock it completely
out Of the running History tells of a
score or more of visits the comet has
made without being able to get within
striking distance.
Astronomers, much as their figures
differ, agree that collision is impossi-
bic. They only differ as to a few
minor details as to distance, time and
velocity under this head The only
point of any moment upon which they
differ is what the effect will be during
the passage of the tail. This is SEIZED |
uled for some time tomorrow after
noon or tomorrow night. Never were |
the skygazers so well prepared to take |
observations as they are now. All
over the world they will be watching. |
Now obscured by Light.
Observations are made difficult by |