THE COMET VISIBLE DURING THE DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Issue 6503, 20 September 1882, Page 5

THE COMET VISIBLE DURING THE DAY.

» [by TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. The comet was clearly visible at 2 o'clock to-day, and crested considerable excitement. It was a most brilliant object, even to the naked eye, when seen from the shadow of any building shutting off the sun. Dr. Hector states that it was within five degrees of the sun, and rapidly approaching it. He haa observed it nightly since the 11th instant, and expects that it will get round the sun to morrow, when the sun also crosses the equator, being in the equinox (Libra). After getting round the sun, its course will be towards the northern hemisphere, anil it will not be visible here after sunset. Dr. Hector says the head strongly resembles the engraving of Donati's Comet. The tail is short, but very fanlike. Dunedin, Tuesday. The comet was plainly visible all the forenoon here to-day. 4 Mr. Arthur Beavcrley writes as follows to the Evening Star to-night concerning the comet:—"The great comet was in its perihelion last night, and is now receding from the sun in nearly the same direction that it approached him. It went very near the sun at its perihelion, and was twice in conjunction with him within a few hours, the eastern portions of its orbit being described in the interval. It approached its perihelion on the remote side of the sun, and is receding from it on the near side, hence it is much nearer the earth, than before. At sunrise to-day it was 4 degrees west from the sun, and at 10 a.m. it was a little more than 4cJt degrees west. It is exceedingly brilliant, and will probably be distinctly visible to the naked eye in the daytime for several days."