The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-23
THE HAsKIN LETTER
Astronomical Phenomena
By Frederick ]. Haskin.

49, A. % ID {. lf - f'" -
This year has been noteworthy
because of the unusual astronomical
events which have been recorded.
each of which has greatly augmented
the public interest in astronomy as
a popular science. Four eclipses;
the discovery OF new comets; the re-
appearances OF old ones; the discoy-
cry of new satellite Of the unusual
h velocity OF hebula; the transit OF
Mercury, and greater details regard
ing the physical condition Of the
planet Mars are a few. of the occur
rences which have given rise to
unusual interest in star-gazing with
in the last few months.
The superstitious believe that COM
cts are in some undefinable way
closely connected with earthly wars.
Astronomers smile over this, as they
do over any reference to the intiu-
ence of the planet Mars over human
battles, but 1t Is rather a strange co
incidence that so many comets have
been visible during the period OF
the greatest conflict upon earth. The
first of these is known as the. Krit-
Finger comet, named after the dis
coverer, who first observed 1t on
March 90, at Bothkamp. Germany.
| It was observed from Washington,
d. c., March 80, and throughout this
country within three days. Its path
was announced a few days later and
/ 1t became visible to observers in all
parts Of the United States during the
summer. While 1t was not bright
enough to be conspicuous ut any
time, 1t was an object of interest to
those having telescope means Of OBJ
servation for months.
A Russian astronomer named
Zlatinnky announced the discovery
OF a new comet at Mitau on May IL.
This comet was not long within our
range of vision 1t was brightest on
out of sight. The Zlatinsky comet
had an interest to amateurs because
1t was visible by the astronomical
ties.
Professor Leon Campbell, of the
Harvard station at Arequipa, Peru,
located another comet on September
is, which became telescopically vis-
ible in southwestern United States on
September 25. 1t was first observed
in this country upon that date by
Professor Haggerty at Las Cruces,
N. NJ, and by the observatories in
California about the same time.
In addition to these new comets,
which have been we'll advertised and
observed by many amateur and lay
men as we'll as astronomers, q NUM-
Der of others previously discovered
have been visible at different periods
of the year. The one Of greatest inn
portance is the Encke comet Zone of
the twenty periodic comets known to
the world) which has reappeared
this year and will be visible several
months. though inconspicuous. This
comet has the shortest time Of revo~
luton of any known. 1t has also for
some period seemed to show pro-
gressive shortening which has been
ascribed 10 a resisting medium per-
haps in the vicinity Of the sun.
]. Delvane's comet, discovered De-
Icenber II, 1918, has been observable
for nearly all the year and will be
visible for a few weeks longer so
that there has not been month OF
1914 in which some comet could not
have been discerned in the heavens.
The Delevan comet was visible to
the naked eye throughout the sum
mer and was an interesting feature
4 of the northeastern sky in the early
mornings. It has two branches OF
i tails. the south tail being broad and
diffused while the one toward the
north is so striking in its appearance
es to call forth much speculation up
on the part of astronomers. Pro-
lessor Barnard, OF the Yerkes OBJ
servatory, believes them to be Of to-
tally different chemical composition.
Professor w. NJ. Cassel. of Wythe-
vile, Md, claims to have discovered
small star plainly visible through
the tails.
No celestial body Is more interest
ing to the observer than the comet
the purpose and plan Of which is yet
shrouded in obscurity. Some have
called 1t an imperfectly formed star
and others star which has been
perfect and fulfilled certain mis-
sion and is now decomposing. Either
of these suppositions may be aided by
the fact that the periodic comets are
generally followed by meteorit
showers upon some part of the earth
Astronomers believe that these show
ers are really atomic fragments OF
the comet which become separated
from the body as it is whirling
| through space.
It is known that the comet con.
tains little real matter OF any kind
The nucleus which contains most Of
the matter is made Of more or less
closely connected fragments. The
tail OF the comet as we see 1t is COM
posed chiefly of gases given off from
, the fragments. At one time 1t war
believed by many people that the
collision Of the earth with the tail Of
a comet would mark the end Of ter.
restial time. But the earth actually
passed through the tail Of a large
comet in 1861 and comparatively lit
tie effect was noticeable. The trans
parency OF comets tails is marvel
Gus. :, stars which the slightest fog
would conceal are seen to shine
clearly through the tail OF comet
which has millions Of miles Of thick
ness. The light OF comets is believed
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