Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1910 — THE COMETS. [ARTICLE]

THE COMETS.

Gossip About These Eccentric Wanderers In Space. Halley’s eomet is only one of many. So far astronomen have located 200 of these in our solar system and they come and go at irregular Intervals. As early as Caesar’s death, 44 B. C., a comet was seen that came nearer the sun than any other save one and which was the most brilliant of any ever discovered. It reappeared in the reign of Justinian, 553 A. D., and Again in 1105. It was again located by Newton in 1680- The comet of 1843 was the only one which got closer to the sun than the one Newton tracked. Comets differ from planets in traveling through space. The planets revolve in a zone of no great breadth on either side of the ecliptic; but the paths.of the comets cut the ecliptic In every direction. The orbits of the former are nearly circular; those of the comets are of varying degrees of eccentricity. Halley’s, in 1682, affirmed that the striking comet which appeared that year was Identical with those which had been seen in 1607, 1531 and 1456, and that it traveled around the sun in a period occupying some 76 years. Biela’s comet, discovered In 1826, revolved around the sun In six years and three-quarters. It returned promptly in 1832, 1839, 1845 and 1852, since when it has not been seen. Lexall’s comet in 1770 was traveling In an elliptical orb round the sun, taking about five and a half years for the encircling. Again in 1876 it circled the •sun and then went out into space and disappeared. This is known as the lost comet, though several have disappeared since scientific observations have been in vogue. Donati’s comet, visible in 1858, was noted for its brilliancy, its distance from the sun being 15 billion miles. The comet is something of a traveler. This -one which is due this month has been rushing through space at 500 miles a minute and by May 18 will be going at 2,000 miles a minute. Juns 3 it will be nearest the earth. Some astronomers believe it will touch the ground. The tall of the comet is worth considering. It is of vast size, more than the-mind can comprehend. Some of them are 400,000,000 miles long and are composed of gaseous matter. Comets are supposed to consist of vaporized carbon or hydro-carbon gases.