SEEN AT WELLINGTON.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12770, 16 April 1910, Page 4

SEEN AT WELLINGTON.

„ Wellington, April 15. Halley's .comet is reported to have been seen this morning by Miss Marchant at Wellington. She detected it at 5.15, in the eastern heavens, towards the horizon, it being veiled by a mass of clouds, which prevented ah earlier observation. It was seen through the- telescope, and it appeared as a gently glowing but distinct nebulous mass, its position apparently corresponding with that reported from Wanganui, Professor Thomas, of Auckland,says regarding Halley's comet: A.few days ago Halley's comet passed behind the sun, and it now appears to us to be receding from the sun in the heavens. Every morning now for some time to come it will rise earlier than the sun, and thus it will.be easier to observe. On May 19th it will pass between the earth and the sun, this being its nearest approach to our globe. Its distance from the earth then has been variously estimated by different astronomers at' from- ten to fourteen millfon miles. Prof. Thomas considers that we in New Zealand should be able to see. the comet at any time now, but to see it well would require very clear atmospheric conditions. The critical time will be on May 19th, when -the comet may either be attracted to the sun by that body or else simply swing round and continue on its course through space. If the comet hits the sun the former will most probably suffer disruption, and we might then see portions of it travelling through space.