A BRACE OF COMETS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 2916, 28 January 1884, Page 3

A BRACE OF COMETS.

(From the Argus.) A NEW COMET. On Monday, January Bth, Mr David Rosa, of Elstornwick, reported that while looking for the Pous comet, he detected what ho believed to bo that body, but it's position being so different from where the comet should be, it was thought probablo he had seen some nebula. As soon, however, as the state of the sky permitted, a search was made, and on Friday evening it was found as indicated by Mr Ross. After careful watching, the suspected comet gave distinct indication of motion with referencn to neighboring stars, but < it was then too late and too much involved m haze on the horizon to make any measurements. On Saturday night, 1 however, an excellent series of measures was obtained, and cleared up any further doubt &8 to its character. It is a small but moderately bright teleeodpic comet, and m a dark clear sky might be just visible to the naked eye. Although no tail conld be seen, Mr Sous states that he saw one distinctly before tho moon gob so much power. Its position at 9 p.m. on Saturday, the 12th mat,, was R k A. 22h. Bm., declination 4Qdeg 7min sonth, &nd was moving east and a little south. It sets about half-past 20 p.m. on tht> S.W. horizon. The question is, is this DA rreat's comet (expected to pass its perihelion on the 12th of this month) or a neir one 1 D' Arrest's comet, with a period of tax years and a half, has already made four returns to perihelion ainco its first discovery m 1851. At one return, however, vie., it 1864, it was not seen. Astronomers have thought it vory doubtful whether it would be found on this occasion, as sA its last apparition it had so far diminished m brightness as to be detected with difficulty even m large telescopes. The now comet is certainly much brighter than we should expect B' Arrest's to be ; and, moreover, though its position m right ascension ib not far from where the later elements of D' Arrest's would place it, it is nearly 29deg further south m declination than given m the ephemeris. The comet of . Brorsen, discovered m 184(5, with a period of about five years and a half, is expected again at perihelion m September this year, and unleos it has been greatly disturbed m ita orbit is not at nil likely to come within reach of telescopes so early as this. It therefore remains an interesting astronomical problem to aacextßiu what our neiv visitor really ' is. The present i.» 'a good instance of How much service a diligent amateur observer may render astronomy. While those professionally engaged iii it have their course cut out, and thoir time ho fully occupied' with regular and utilitarian work that they cannot spare much for any except very special search, it very frequently happens, as m the .present caße, that those who do a little astronomical observing aad recreation are the first to find and direct attention to a stranger m the skies. The (hanks of luitronomers arc due to Mr David Boss for the persevering way he haaiWjOked, out this small visitor and handed it 'over to the powerful instrument* of our Observatory. ■■■■ ;,■ ; ; ;.;• '.. ■• POMH OOMOT. Although this body has been obnerved OB.uevenl evenings, the bright?., witttern gloir, coupled with the Jncreaiiiii^:Waoonligttt, bAapreventedj*n£tbing like" ftecue abaervA&in or measure* being made. '' In a fetf evenings, when the moon rides later j thetw will be chances of seeing it m a moderately dark iky, when jit is. expected Bomo account of ito true position and ap^ peannce may be given. The last accounts from- Europe of this comet indicate a wonderful variability, which will probably explain the difficulty experienced here m picking it up night aftor night. Whilst on tome evenings it presented to European and American observers bite usual appearance of a telesoopio comet, on others it appeared as a very minute star without nebtuosity, and indeed like a true star bf the :llth or 12th ujagnit tide.