The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-30

was the fourth comet discovered In the
year 1852. This body is moving about
the sun In a great elliptical orbit, the
farthest extremity of which lies near the
path of our earth 1t was first discoV-
cred on June q, 1852, and during this
year was a beautiful object. passing SO
near the arth that it appeared very
bright and was easily visible to the naked
eye; it WAS, In fact, possible to follow
and watch this interesting object for
nearly six months as 1t slowly moved
among the stars.
Unfortunately. as this return the comet
is not nearly 30 favorably situated, so
that It will at no time become nearly
bright enough to be Viewed without
telescope. 1t Is slowly receding from us,
but in the largest telescopes can probably
be followed throughout the winter At
present 1t appears as a faint elongated
head or coma, with a tail some one or
two minutes long. During the present
month it will move slowly northward
from the constellation Cygnus. along the
path ABB. Figure l. which follows almost
the exact center OF the Milky Way.
In spite of the disappointing appear
ance of this object, it's rediscovery is OF
the greatest interest since Ii Increases by
one the small number of these bodies
which, after their withdrawal from U.S.
have actually been seen to return to our
sun. The present comet, like the far
more striking Halley's comet. was cap
tured," and thus added to the family of
our solar system, by the planet Neptune.
Rediscovery of the Comet of 1892
This faint but swiftly moving little
comet was first seen In the year
1892, and was again found upon its re-
turn to the neighborhoed of the sun In
1900. At this return the comet had passed
perihelion and was always so near the
sun that it was only seen with difficulty
during the eight weeks that 1t remained
near enough to us to be discovered. II
doubtless again returned In 1907, but 1t
was not found at that time The comet
at its present return was first discov-
cred low i'll the southwest In the constol-
lation Serpens, and It Is moving rapidly
southwark consequently, although 1t Ia
described as quite bright and easily vis-
ible In small telescope it's unfavorable
position and its nearness to the sun
cause 1t to be found only with difficulty.
This comet Is moving in a much smaller
orbit than the preceding, and completes
it's passage about its orbit in 6S years.
The Planets
Mercury, which passed to the west of
the sun on November 2S reriains a morn
ing star throughout the month; ON De-
cember 10 1t reaches its greatest elonga-
ton, and for a few days before and after
this date it may be detected rising In the
southwest about an hour and a half be-
fore sunrise
Venus is too near the sun to be salts
factorily oberved. On the first of the
month 1t rises an hour and a quarter
and by the end of the month but little
more than half an hour before sunrise.
This planet is now beyond the sun at
nearly its greatest distance from us, and
Its westward motion is consequently very
slow.
Though already so very nearly in line
with the sun, it will not finally pass to
the east of that body and become an
evening star until February II.
Mars will be seen rising far in the north
east at about Z o'clock. During this
month it reaches a position in the sky
early three degrees higher than that at
tanned by the sun at the time of the
longest day; consequently it's daily path
across the heaven lies high above the
ground, and the planet is in excellent
position for observation
Jupiter may be seen low in the south
west just after sunset, but 1t is far too
near the suns rays to be in a favorable
position for observation. This planet will
pass to the east of the sun on January 90
Saturn will be seen moving slowly east
ward in Taurus. between the Hyades and
the horns of the Bull. Its rings are now
very widely opened out, and in a rather
large telescope the reddish bands upon the
ball are easily visible. A quite small
lens will show the largest moon Titan,
and possibly the two other moons, Iape-
tus and Rhea, but the fainter satellites
can only be detected by the largest aper-
lures.
On the Afternoon OF December II the
noon will again pass over the Pleiades.
but as this will occur between 3 o'clock
and o'clock p m, the phenomenon can
not be very satisfactorily observed ex-
2ept In the telescope.
At about o'clock p. m. of December 15
we will see our satellite pass just above
the planet Mars. The two bodies will
be so very near together that they will
form a beautiful figure in the sky, but
unfortunately the moon will not be seen
to actually hide the planet by observers
in this country.
On December %. at hours 80 minutes
a M, eastern standard time the sun
will reach its lowest point in the heavens
and winter will commence. This will
therefore, be the shortest day of the year
ERIC DOOT TTFTT n