ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13742, 25 May 1910, Page 7

ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA.

AX ECLIPSE AND THE COMET

All eyes were turned skywards last evening" to observe t%vo impressive natural phenomena in the heavens. Halley's comet was ono of tho attractions,'and an oclipso of the moon was tho other. From a popular, if not » scientific, point of view, the conditions for observation with the naked eye were as nearly perfect as possible, borne clouds and a haze on tho low easteru sky formed tho only drawback, but they did not succeed in obscuring tJlc view of the eclipse for an length ot time. When the frozen planet rose into view about 5 p.m., the eclipse was already at its height, the face of the moon being of a dark coppery hue lor about ten minutes, owing to the dense smoko and fog and tho presence of a cloud in tho sky, the moon was lost to view entirely, but it emerged from this obscurity into eight again a minute or two before a quarter-past five. From tho appearance of the top portion of the rigafc-hand side it -was then evident that tho totality had begun to pass, for a thin silvery rim of light was distinctly visible. This illuminated edge became increasingly brilliant, and about the half-fcour the bright portion was large enough to convey the impression that the observer was gazing at an immense ice-field, tho suggestion of frozen whiteness being very striking. By a quarter to six a fairly largo extent of the surface of the moon was bathed in vivid white light, and it was noticeable that the obscured part presented a very much blacker appearance than it had previously done, the increase of apparent darkness being due to tho increased contrast between tho lighted and tho eclipsed portions. Jt was an exceedingly beautiful spectacle, even thoiigh it was not a perfect example of an telipse. As tho shadow -was passing the dark arc seemod to become so increasingly definite that it required Httlo imagination to till in the rest of the circle.

While the eclipse lasted c fine view was obtained of Bailey's comet, wbicli was high in the northern sky. The celestial visitor has lost much of the glory which distinguished it when it was visible in the early morning hours ten days ago, but in tho darkness caused by the oclipse it became an extremely prominent object. The nucleus shone brightly through its enveloping haze, and the tail spread itself out over a long stretch of the heavens, like a monstrous searchlight, the beam ever widening until it faded away. Between six o'clock and half-past six, relieved of Luna's competition, the comet wa* seen to the best advantage, and as a spectacle easily surpassed all its other evening displays. The people who were most disappointed were those who had seen the comet in all the splendour of it 3 morning glory; others were content to admire without criticising. As the shadow gradually moved off the moon tho comet shed its illumination, and by scron o'clock it had again become a comparatively insignificant object. Halley's comet had, however, made an impressivo farewell—one that will long be remembered by those who witnessed it.

A number of visitors called at the Canterbury Colles© last evening, and observed the oomet and the calipee through the Townsond telescope. From soni* points of view the results wore disappointing. "The moon wae too low for a really fine eclipse; in fact, it was so low as to be interfered with by the atmosphere. The comet will in future hardly repay observation oven through a telesoope,' as it is rapidly disappearing into infinity. When it set last night it was 21,000,000 niiilion miles from the earth, and when it goes down to-morrow it will have added three million miles to that incomprehensiblo distance. In the North Canterbury district last evening, at 5.40, excellent views were obtained of the eclipse, and during the time of shadow Hal ley's comet was more distinctly visible than it has been for a week.