The Comet.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4545, 17 November 1882, Page 3

The Comet.

Both hemispheres are a littlo upaot r.t the erratic proceedings of a com?!! the world was supposed to be well rid of for many years, and whioh has yet suddenly ro-appeared in tho heavens. A oomet has been seen at Bio Janeiro, another at Tionna, at Paris, ut Durccht, and at Nice, and there is every reason to ccncludo that it is one and tho same luminary. Its ipeed is so tremendous that it is supposed by some astronomers to bo neoring tho earth with extraordinary strides. But this comet appears to be very little to be dopended upon aa regards its movemonts. It ia ' pronounced by astronomers to be

the same as that which visited the earth in 1843. After that it was calculated that the comet would not re-appear for one hundred and seventy yeare. Nevertheless it came back in 1889, or in barely thirty-seven years. Then again it was dismissed on a further absence of exactly tlie same period of thirtyseven years, put has actually returned in two. The astronomers now declare that it is being drawn by irresistible attraction into the aun, like a moth into a flame, and that some day, ■ear or remote, the worid may witness a phenomenon without precedent since it has been inhabited by human beings, the Swallowing up of a comet into the great centre of our solar system.