The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-11
COMET DUE TO VISIT EARTH THIS MONTH

of this universe, which physi- cist believes to have some limit. even though one astronomer now larger than we thought 1t. might read like this:
 "on June 27, the tiny planet earth, is expecting to see sparks (meteoric 00o, 0O0-mile tail of the comet, Pons- Winnecke, which will just miss hit ting earth by only 100000 miles.
 Though we are not certain of the exact nature of these hairy stars astronomers believe comets are made up of small particles, very far from each other, surrounded by masses of gas," explains a bulletin from the Washington headquarters of the Ma tional Geographic society.
 "The main body of comet varies from a few hundred to few thou sand miles in diameter, and its tail, which makes it as spectacular among heavenly bodies as the tail of the peacock makes him in the bird world, measures from a few million to more tran 1oo,oo0,ooo miles in length.
 ''The tails of comets have some pe- culiar characteristics. They always turn away from the sun, and they in- crease and decrease with astonishing rapidity, the sun evidently causing them to lengthen enormously. Though it's volume is very great, the actual mass of comet is very small Sci entists tell us that the average den- sity of a comet is but fraction of that of the air near the earth's sur l face, and that the density of the ex- tremity of the tail is, Of course, very much less.
 This is evident from the fact that these bodies, which are so much larger in volume than the planets, are deflected from their orbits by the planets. which arc not even disturbed enough by their appearance for any observations to be taken of it. Even when a comet passed through Jupi- ters satellite system in 1886, not noon veered from it's course, but the | comet totally changed it's orbit as a result of the magnetic force ex- erted. That the substance of comets and their tails is much rarefied is further apparent because even the faintest of the visible stars can be seen through them.s
 Work associated with the beha- vior and the nature of comets and their orbits is yet in it's infancy. and the knowledge thaS the spectroscops reveals regarding their composition is confusing. It seems to say that Lthey are made of hydrocar bon vapor which shines by it's own light, but part of their light must be reflected sunlight as the brilliancy of comet increases as-it approaches the sun and diminishes as it passes away.
 The idea that comets are wander CTS in space has long ago been given up. Now we know that they belong to our solar system, but their orbits are such large parabolas or eclipses that they sometimes acquire hun dreds of thousands of years to com plete a revolution. Occasionally the fascinating Jupiter will lure one of the shooting stars from it's straight and narrow path. Like the foolish moth, it will revolve around the greater light and apparently for brief while become a part of our system only to pursue it's own way after discovering the vanity of it's affection. When the comet chances to cross the orbit of the earth we ex- perience a meteoric shower. This is what we are told is to happen to us as the result of the visit of Pons- winnecke.
 Sometimes Jupiter reduces them entirely to subjection, and they stay on with that planet as part of it's numerous and expansive family. They then circulate in eliptical orbits around their conqueror, and gradual ly dissipate their substance among their tails until they become entirely Invisible.
 The tail of comet in all it's gor- geousness is not mere appendage. If it were, it would not long stand the wear and tear that hurting through space would give such q thin mass of matter, nor could it be Tipped from one side to the other as is the case when the body passes in the neighborhood of the sun. It must be made largely of dissipating vapor, never the same from second to sec ond. volatilizing or evaporating from the heat of the sun. to shift like the smoke in chimney with the outside influences which control it.
 "All of us remember Haiieys com ct. because it appeared in all its noted brilliancy in 1910 on its D. year tour of the skies in harmony with the astronomers predictions concerning it. One of the most fa- nous comets in history is that of 1880. by which Newton proved that comets move under the influence of the gravitation of the sun; it is be- lieyed to be the one which appeared shortly after Julius Caesar was mur- dered. as we'll as the comet which caused excitement in 5s1 and in 11os. If Haliey's suspicious be confirmed that this is the same comet with b75-year period, our posterity will hail if in 2255"