| 151 [From the American]
The Comet
As the comet has excited considerable attention to-day, the following extract from an article on comets, in Rees' Cyclopœdia, published some thirty years ago. may be of interest. 'The elements of the orbits of the comets in 1264 and 1556, were so nearly the same, that it is very probable it was the same comet; if so, it ought to appear again about the year 1843.' The error here of five years, is a very small one when we consider that the period of this comet is about 292 years, or a little more than that.
From its first appearance in 1264
to its second appearance in 1556
was a period of 292 y's
Adding to this period the time
of its last appearance, viz: 1556
We have for its third appearance the year 1848
The idea that this was the planet Venus, and that the increased size and brightness of it, and its long tail, were owing to the action of the suns rays upon it by reflection or otherwise, we consider absurd. It is far more reasonable to suppose that it is the comet of 1264, and 1556 making a third visit to the earth.
By referring to the American Almanac, it will be seen that Venus is now at it's aphelion, or greatest distance from the sun. It was stated recently in a French journel [journal], that the French Astronomers were expecting the appearance of a comet to the earth about this time. Al.
Feb. 28.
[From the New Bedford Mercury.]
Mr. Editor: This day Feb. 28, a comet of great brilliance has been seen, visible through the day without the aid of a glass, and its brilliancy almost equal to that of Venus. Its situation is very near the eastern limb of the sun; its tail appears about three deg. in length. It may be the comet announced some three months since in Europe; It was then seen traversing the constellation Draco; be it that or another it is of rare brilliancy. There are but three on record of sufficient brilliancy to be seen in the day season. The first was 43 years before Christ, and is call a 'hairy star;' it was seen with the naked eye in the day time. The second was in the year 1402, and it was so brilliant that the light of the sun at the end of March, did not hinder people seeing it at mid-day; both its nucleus and its tail were, to use the language of the day, 'two fathoms long.' The third appeared in Feb 18, 1744, and nearly equalled [equaled] Venus in splendor, and many persons saw it at mid-day without glasses. It may yet prove that the comet of to-day is the same as that of 1402. Three observations only are necessary to calculate its orbit, the elements of which, if previously registered, will enable astronomers to decide whether the comet under consideration has appeared or not.
Of 504 comets that have entered the solar system, 24 have passed between Mercury and the Sun, 47 within Venus, 58 between Venus and the Earth, 73 between the Earth and Mars, and 302 between Mars and the orbit of Jupiter, and no casuality [casualty] has occurred to primary or satelite [satellite]. The comet of 1770 passed through the system of Jupiter without producing the slightest effect; still many people are alarmed at the appearance of these erratic bodies, these rail cars of the stellar regions, the mystery of whose office and destiny makes their astronomy of intense interest.
With reference to the danger of a comet's striking the earth, we here add that the comet Encke, whose period is only 1,207 days, and nearest the earth of all the comets known, cannot come in collission [collision] short of a period of 219,000,000 of years, which calculation is based upon astronomical facts.
The first of the following paragraphs is from the Boston Journal of the 1st inst., and the secand [second] from the Portland Advertiser:
"A gentleman from Braintree, of a highly respectable character, inform us that yesterday about noon, the inhabitants of that town were alarmed at the sight of a large heavenly body, resembling a comet, in the south-eastern part of the sky, and having a tail or train of considerable length. It was clearly visible to the naked eye for nearly an hour, until lost in the space! It was also seen yesterday, we understand, from other places."
"The beautiful celestial phenomenon of a comet visible at noon day, just without the radical blaze of the sun, and strongly illuminated by its light, attracted many gazers yesterday. We believe it had not before been noticed in this neighborhood. We do not ourselves remember to have seen its approach announced, but others inform us that it has been repeatedly predicted as likely to appear in February, 1843."
For the Times and Seasons.
Halos and Parhelia.
This morning, between the hours of six and nine o'clock, the heavens exhibited a splendid and delightful appearance, of halos or circles,
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