THE STRANGE COMET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 11 December 1923, Page 5

THE STRANGE COMET.

DOUBIAGO'S RETURN. IDENTIFIED IX STQNEY. (From Oar Own Corresponaent.) SYDNEY, December C. The comet reported to have been located on Friday last at New Plymouth, New Zealand, was observed by searchers in Sydney last night, and has been identified as Doubiago'e comet for which local astronomers have been watching for some weeks. According to Mr. Walter F. Gale, 'president of the Australasian branch of the Royal Astronomical Association, the comet was found to coincide with Doiibiago's comet, last month a cable was received from Greenwich tusking that a lookout be maintained for the comet in the region of Zeta Arse, •where it was expected to become visible. Thie portion of the aky is visible only in the Southern hemisphere, but the search is rendered difficult owing to the presence in the region of a large number of email nebulae. Observed last night the comet appeared to be a bright telescopic object, and at 8 p.m. was situated .in the haze of the south-western horizon, and was moving in a north-westerly direction. The comet is not likely to be visible to the naked eye, but is an easy sight for telescope, and the position at 8 p.m. last night was approximately 17 hours, 2 minutes right ascension, declination south minus 511 degrees. The best time for observations, according to Mr. Gale, will be in the early morning before dawn, when it will be in the south-eastern sky.

Considerable interest attaches to the discovery of the comet, which is not very -well known, ibut has been found to have the shortest known period for a comet. Previously, Enckle's comet was believed to enjoy this distinction, with a period of about 35 years, bat Doubiago's comet has a period of between two and three years. During the past few nights, Douihiago's comet has increased in torilliancy. ...