The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-05-20
TRICKY OLD COMET
GAVE EARTH SLIP
AFTER ALL
Tail WobbIed Around Away
Off Schedule
ASTRONOMERS ALL AT SEA
When II Ought to Have Been West
1t Was East II II Was
Anywhere

New York, May 20.-The latest
news of the comet is contained in this
dispatch from Yerkes Observatory at
williams Bay, Wis, last night:
Following closely on the unexpect-
ed conditions that prevailed early to-
day, when the tail Of Halley's comet
was plainly seen In the east, astron-
omers at Yerkes Observatory today
were further bewildered by an appar-
ition across the face OF the sun at
noon.
"A broad spectrum of light extend
ing across and considerable dis
lance to each side of the sun attract
ed the attention of the observers.
Prof. f. b. Frost who first sighted the
| phenomenon, delared he had never be-
| fore witnessed its like. Prof. f. e.
! Barnard said the same. Prof. Frost
4 telephonedto observers within radius
of 100 miles of Williams Bay, calling
attention to the peculiar occurrence.
| The band lasted less than half an
hour.
Sun spots seen Wednesday after
noon, followed by brilliant displays
of northern lights last night, and
these in turn succeeded by varied re-
ports of fiery streamers shooting
across the horizon to the southwest,
had been passed by the astronomers
as having absolutely no direct connec-
ton with the comet. But the band
across the sun was another story.
Although | cannot advance an OPP
inion at this time, said Prof Frost, i
can see no other cause but the comet
for the appearance of the spectrum.
"He believed that the two were re-
lated In some unexplained way. The
passage of the earth through the tail
Of the comet, delayed day in its
schedule is believed to be taking
place tonight, although early obser-
vations did not give positive proof Of
this.
"Shattering all scientific calculat-
ions and puzzling the astronomers the
tail of Halley's comet appeared in the
eastern sky today at time when the
authorities had agreed 1t would be in
the west
Such eminent astronomers as Prof
S. A. Mitchell OF Columbia University
New York; Prof. Edwin b. Frost,
head of the Yerkes Observatory stan,
and Prof Edward Barnard of the Uni.
versity OF Chicago agree that the glow
of light they saw in the east was the
comets tail. Prof Mitchell. Prof
Frost and Prof. Barnard say that any
OF these three explanations may be
right:
First, the curvature OF the comets
tail, first discovered and noted by
Prof. Barnard on Tuesday night may
have developed to a wholly unexpect-
ed degree while the head Of the COM
ct has passed the earth on schedule.
Second. like Borelrs comet. OF
1903. Halleys comet may have ceased
its tail-making activity, cutting of the
glowing fan that is now puzzling the
scientists.
Third. II is possible that all calcu-
lations are wrong. and that the comet
has not yet passed the earth.
''As nearly as could be computed
the period OF the appearance of the
comets tail in the east extended from
1880 o'clock Wednesday night to
1920 O'Clock this morning. II was still
plainly visible at a time when the
astronomers were confident the earth
would have passed completely
through the tail.
After leaving his telescope at day.
break Prof. Frost issued this state
ment.
-" Greater than all the theories and
all the computations are the facts
And the fact Is that the tail OF Hal
ley's comet has been appearing In the
east in practically the same place II
has appeared since yesterday morn
ing. There is no question about that
The tail which glowed from the hor
zon, close to the milky way, before
midnight until dawn, has not yet pass
ed across the earth. That is a Ger
tainty. In addition, Il is also certain
that there is no material diminution
In the size of this tail, as compared
with the tail OF the day before.
We are confident that the calcu
lations for the passage of the head
OF the comet between the sun and tn,
earth are correct Unquestioned as
Economical authorities. working In
dependently, OF each other In all part,
of the world, arrived at these caloula
tions, which have been corrected IL
detail ever since the comet passed
Venus on May ..
we are also confident that tn,
head of the comet made the transit
as per schedule. But the mystery o
the appearance OF the tail in the cas-
this morning is great puzzle. I
cannot be explained satisfactorily a
this time
"A brilliant moon In the night prov
ed to be a serious handicap TO the sci
entists behind the batteries OF cam
eras and telescopes trained on IN,
sky. Early observations were i'm
paired and work with the cameras Gu
OF to considerable extent by tn