THE COMET.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19177, 7 December 1927, Page 10

THE COMET.

A STRANGER IN THE SKIES

LIKELY TO INCREASE IN BRILLIANCE. (SPICIALLT WBJTTEtT FOE THE PRESS.) (15 ;. G. Hogg, M.A., F.R.A.S.). The comet which appeared so suddenly ft few days ago is gradually brightening as it nears the sun, and is now a conspicuous object in the southwest sky. The nucleus, which appears to be increasing in size, is of about the same brightness as a third magnitude star The tail is well defined, and straight, and its length is now about a diameter and a half of the moon. The comet -is a striking object as seen by the naked eye, but the beauty of the spectacle is enhanced when either good field glasses or a small telescope is directed on it. A\ hen viewed through a large telescope, an element of haziness enters, giving the comet a nebulous appearance. It is interesting to notice how persistently the tail turns away from the sun. This suggests that radiation in some form, emanating from the sun when it strikes the nucleus of the comet, ropels the fine matter assembled there, and drives it directly away, forming, really, a. hollow cone of extremely tenuous matter, through which even faint stars can be seen with their luminosity undiminished.

The comet is likely to increase in brilliance for some days, but until its orbit has been calculated, and the date of its perihelion passage ascertained, any prediction has an element of uncertainty. Only three good observations of a rapidly moving object like the present comet are necessary for deteVmination of its orbit, and as the conditions of gbservation have been good in New Zealand we may at any moment learn tho salient facts of our visitor's future movements.

The name by which the comet will in future be known has yet to be settled. It is not enough for any individual in order to have it naiiied after him to claim to have been the first to see it. He must substantiate his claim to bo the discoverer l»y proving that lie was the first to communicate its advent either to the Press or to some standard authority, such as the Dominion or other recognised observatory. Determination of this priority is often a matter of some difficulty, but eventually the different claims are sifted out and the rightful discoverer finds himself famous.

Our visitor is an entirely new comet, I believe, and like so many of the brightest comets we have ever had has come quite unexpectedly. It may yet turn out to be a magnificent one like that of 1851. As I have already explained, we shall know more about this when its' - orbit' has been ascertained.

SEEN AT SEA ON SATURDAY

WELLINGTON HAS NOT YET SIGHTED VISITOR.

(PBKS9 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, December 6

The Government astronomer, Dr. C. E. Adams, has received numerous messages from various parts of New Zealand advising him of the comet.

Mr T. Holmes, an officer in the Atlienic, is believed to be the first person in New Zealand to see the comet/ He observed it while rounding East Cape at 10.30 p.m. on Saturday. The comet was then seen as bright as - a star of the first magnitude, while its tail could be easily discerned with the' naked eye. Its head was pointing to the horizon, and it was about in a line with tTip pointers of the Southern Cross and as far away from the furthest pointer as that was from the actual cross itself. Adverse weather conditions have prevented its being seen in Wellington.