PONS-WINNECKE
COMET’S TRAIL OF MILLIONS OF METEORS. Dr. Crommelin, the astronomer of tho Royal Observatory, Greenwich, informed the "Daily Mail” that when the comet known as Pons-Winnecke makes its expected appearance some time in Juno there is only the very slightest chance of its colliding with the earth, and instead of causing a catastrophe, as has been suggested in some quarters, it may pass by altogether unnoticed. "Instead of being alarmed,’ said Dr. Crommelin, "I think astronomers would welcome a collision to see what comets aro reallv made of.”
Pons-Winnecke, a comet first named in 1819, becomes visible from the earth every 5J years, and Dr. Crommelin has estimated that it will lie very near us about June 15. If it passes in the daytime it may not be noticed at all. “There id just the possibility that it will cross the orbit of the earth during the three weeks it will be near us," said Dr. Crommelin, “hut the chances aro less than 1 in 1000. There may be a great display of meteors when, the comet draws near, because Pons-Winnecke, though not having what is commonly known as a tail, has a trail of meteors 500 or 600 million miles long. The comet itself travels at the rate of 24 miles a second when near the jjartlb -
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Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 7
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219PONS-WINNECKE Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 7
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