THE COMET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6440, 3 October 1882, Page 3

THE COMET.

(Melbourne Paper.)

The comet passed perihelion 'early on the morning of the 18th, and at noon on the pre-

vious day was plainly seen with the naked eye

as a very bright object wi Jim 4deg of the suu. From its apparent motion in the heavens it was thought probable it would continue to

move eastwards, and therefore be seen in the evening following the sun. Cloudy weather, however, prevailed in Melbourne after this, and no view of the comet could be obtained. From observations secured on and prior to the 17th, a rough orbit was computed, which gave the following approximate oleinents: — Perihelion passage, September 17375 Longitude o[ node .. .. 353dc<j. 33m. Longitude of perihelion .. 275deg. 12m. Inclination .. .. 3SJe?. 10m. Logarithm of pcrlhel. distance .. TtiOOU Motion—Retrograde.

From these it was found the comet had swept half around the sun in less than two hours, and after this stupendously rapid excursion was returning with a westerly motion over apparently nearly the same part of the heavens in which it first appeared. It would, therefore, be again visible in the early morning before sunrise.

A telegram from Mr Todd, of Adelaide, on the 22nd, stated the comet was seen by some person, rising 20 minutes before the sun on the 21st, and again at 20 minutes past 5 on Friday morning, the 22nd. The elements of the calculated orbit were sent to Mr Todd on Friday evening, from which lie would see that it was again visible in the morning.

Owing to continued cloudy weather, the first opportunity of again observing the comet occurred a little before sunrise yesterday (Sunday) morning, when it was well seen between the clouds, presenting a grand spectacle. It is undoubtedly the largest comet seen since 1801, and, it is thought, exceeds even that in brightness. The elements of the approximate orbit referred to show its perihelion distance to have been one of the smallest on record, and must have brought the comet at its nearest approach to the sun almost to grazing its surface; for, taking the calculation as correct, it passed within 453,000 miles of the sun's centre, and as the radius of the apparent solar surface is 430,000, it must have been within about 23,000 miles of it—a somewhat alarming proximity, and certainly within* range of the enormous volcanic jets of incandescent hydrogen ejected from the sun in the vicinity of sun spots, which often extend 100,000 miles from its surface. The elements generally show a remarkable similarity to the great comet of 1843, and if not the same, it will probably be found to be a comet belonging to the same system, moving in nearly the same orbit.

The comet may be looked for during the week, rising about half-past 4 in the morning, a few degrees south of east ;■ its motion taking it farther west and a little farther south each day. It is also stated that Mr Todd, of Adelaide, has identified the comet with that of 1843.