HALLEY'S COMET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 806, 2 May 1910, Page 8

HALLEY'S COMET.

ITS PROGRESS TO THE SUN, AND AFTER.

Oj Teleeranh.—Soccial Correspondent.! Wanganui, May 1.

The director of the Wanganni Observatory, Mr. Ward, supplies the following interesting particulars of Halley's Comet:—

This very interesting object promises to make a line spectacle in the heavens as it approaches our planet on

its outward ourney. It has been observed on many occasions during the past month, and shows every sign of increasing in size and brilliancy. Its coma is very bright, and the tail is quite five to six degrees in length at time of writing.

During the early part of May it will be a morning object in Pisces and near Omega, rising nearly three hours be-' fore the sun. By May o the comet will be moving fairly' rapidly, towards the sun's face, and will rise about two hours before bim.

The interval will rapidly shorten, and it will appear to move, into the sun, on May 18, and will pass in front of the luminary on May 19. It will be at the sun's centre at 2 hours 22 minutes p.m. on May 19, • when, if the nucleus were of sufficient contrast, it would bo.seen as .a dark spot on .the sun's disc, but this is very improbable. The oomet will pass over tie sun very rapidly, and will come out on the western side, i and may, if brilliant enough, be caoght at sunset on May 19,- but should be easily seen oil the following evening, when it- will set about an hour after the sun.

Its motion, across the north-western sky will be very rapid, and for several nights- it wifl set an honr later than on the preceding evening. This will be the most popular time to view the comet, bat we must not overlook one factor which will militate against the best observing condition —altogether apart from the weather —and this is the moon, which at. this tone is near fulL .

Tbo moon will be eclipsed on the evening of May 24, and, given a clear evening on that date, this should be the best opportunity, although the moon will on this occasion come out of the earth's Bliadow too early, owing to the motions of the earth and tlio comet bein 7 opposed art this time. The comet will rapidly fade, and by the end of the month may again be the property ■of the man with the telescope.

COMETS TIME-TABLE. The following "table, prepared by Dr. Kennedy, serves to further explain l the report of Mr- Ward: — On May 19 the comet will pass across the bud's disc between 1.50 and 2.50 p m J and aftpr that date will appear in- lie western sky after sunset. Distance of Comet from the Earth. Comet Sun Mffionis Date. nses. rises, of milea a.m. a.m. May 1 3.41 6.36 ■ 73 May 2 3.38 6.37 70 May 3 _ 3-38 6.38 66 1 May 4 3.37 6.39 62 May 5 ..-3.36 6.40 59 May -6 ' ~ 3.34 6.41 56 May 7 3.35 6.42 52 May 8 —«-.••• 3.36 6.43 ■ 48 May 9 3.37 6.44 .45 M&Y 10 3.40 6.45 41 May 11 3.44 6.46 37 May 12 3.48 6.47 34 May 13 3.57 6.48 30 Mat 14 4.9 6-49 1 27 May 15 4.28 < 6.50 .. 24 May 16..« 4.48 6.51 21 May 17 ..... 5.17 6.52 ,18 May 18 —• 5.58 6.53 16 May 19 6.49 6.54 * 15 Distance of Comfitfrom the. Earth. Sun Comet Millions Date. sets. sets, of miles pjn. p.m. May 20 4.39 5.48 14 May 21 •• 4.38 6.32 lo May 22 — 4.37 7.33 16 ; May 23 ......... 4.36" 7.55 18 Mav 24 4.36 9.27 21 May 25 .— 4.35 10.0 24 May 26 4.35 10.19 27 : May 27 44J3 10.22 30 May 28 4J3 10.33 . 34 May 29 ~ 4.32 10.38 37 May 30 10.44 41 He Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Hector of St. Patrick's College, states .that three or four degrees of the tail of. Halley's comet is at present visible to the. naked eye.. -.The,comet is now. seen to the best advantage between 5 a.m. and 5.30 a.m., but is visible to the naked eye as late as 6 a.m. The comet will form the principal subjeot for discussion at the meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society on' Wednesday 'next, when it will be treated in its historical, mathematical, and physical aspects by Messrs. T. King, C. E. Adams, and the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, respectively.