DISCOVERY OF COMET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 12

DISCOVERY OF COMET.

VISIBLE TO UNAIDED EYE. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION-.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. A new comet was discovered yesterday at 2 a.m. of magnitude six, that is, it is a bright comet visible to the naked eye. Its right ascension is 12h 8m 28s, declination 21 degrees 42 minutes south. The right ascensio* is increasing 20 minutes of arc a day and declination increasing southwards 50 minutes a day. The comet is in the constellation Corvus (the Crow), about three hours in advance of the sun, and therefore may be seen in the early morning.

The statement that the new comet.is a bright one and visible to the naked eye is liable to be misleading. As the comet is visible to tho naked eye it is classed among the "bright" comets, of which there are few. At the same time it is little brighter than tho faintest stars visible to the unaided eyo and is not a conspicuous object. The constellation Corvus may, be seen rising due cast about 2 a.m. It is a group of four fairly bright stars in the form of quadrilateral. It is not possible yet to state what will happen to , the present discovery. Its motion is roughly directed toward the sun and it is moving a third of a degree a day. These facts vindicate that it is probably nearing its perihelion, or closest approach to the sun; and therefore cannot grow much brighter. Several faint telescopic comets have already been discovered this, year and sev eral periodic comets are due to return, but this comet appears to be an unexpected visitor.