NEW COMET

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25365, 12 December 1947, Page 6

NEW COMET

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN WELLINGTON

OBSERVATION THROUGH BIG TELESCOPE (P.A.) WELLINGTON. December 11. The new comet wee observed through, « 6-inch telescope at Kel> burn to-night. Conditions were excellent tor about SO minutes, and when calculations are complete an accurate description ot its position will be possible. Clouds drew across some time before it was due to set, so that all the observations hoped tor were not made. One photograph was taken, and although its full exposure was not reached because of the cloud, the comet, part of its tail, and a star close beside the tail were registered reasonably well. Venua, which is some degrees north ,ot the comet, was easily visible to the naked eye at 8 p.m., but it was not until 8.25 the comet was located with binoculars. A few minutes later it was visible to the naked eye, and about 10 minutes later it wag centred in the crosswires of the 5-inch king telescope of the astronomical section of the Wellington branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand. The first fix of the comet’s position was made at 8.44. and in quick succession two adjacent stars were plotted, and a check fix of the comet effected.

The director of the Carter Observatory (Mr J. L. Thomsen), who was in charge of the work, will to-day compute the exact position of the comet. Mr Thomsen said he would estimate the length of the tail as seen to-night to be about four degrees, nothing-comparable to that of Halley’s Comet.

Mr Thomsen has already received radio telephone calls from the United States and Australia seeking details of local observations. . Ari American press correspondent in Sydney rang for information. He fold Mr Thomsen that the Commonwealth Solar Observatory was working on a theory that it was Encke’s Comet, Mr Thomsen said Encke’s Comet was observed by three observers between October 11 and 22. 11 . a Uttle off the expeeted path, but not so far off as to suggest it could be. the eomet under observation, In his humble opinion, said Mr Thomsen, the Commonwealth Observatory, if correctly reported, was barking up the wrong tree.