Halley's Comet.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 October 1913, Page 4

Halley's Comet.

WAS Til EKE CONTACT WITH THE EAIiTH.

At the recent meeting' of the Sydney branch of the British Astronomical Association the 'subject of the earth passing* through the tail of Haliey's comet was revived. Mr Beattie maintained 011 mathematical grounds, apart altogether from observed fact, that such an occurrence was an impossibility unless material substance could move with velocities almost infinite, as otherwise the tail would certainly be curved, and, moreover, would lag* behind the radius vector. He was aware that Professor Barnard, of Yerkes, recently, in observing a new star, believed he had evidence of gaseous matter travelling* outwards at the velocity of several millions of miles per minute, but he could not bring* himself to believe that within the comparatively small compass of a comet's nucleus such tremendously explosive force could be evolved, as in the case of a cataclysm caused by the collision of two dead suns, if such Avere the cause of the Nova.

Mr sait 1 that the phenomenon referred to was Nova Persei, of Avliich lio had prints in his possession. He considered Professor Barnard wasright in liis eonelusions, tluit it was Ihe actual matter itself in motion and not, as sonic supposed, the light arriving at matter previously in existence. One could not say what mighl be taking place in a comet's head, and he held an open mind on the subject.

Mr Ts T nii"'lo uphold (he view talcen by Mr Boattie, but at Hio same time felt strongly adracfod towards a study of the new field opened up by Professor Barnard.