AMERICAN NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1927, Page 3

AMERICAN NEWS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) SMITH ON THU FLY. SAX FRANCISCO, Dec. 18. Smith took off at 8.23} a.m. for an endurance flight. The plane ran 2500 feet down the run-way and took the air after 35 seconds. Mixability was excellent, and there was a mild breeze. Later, at noon, when the “Spirit of California” was up over three and ahalf hours, Smith radioed that all was satisfactory. THE COMET. NEW YORK, Dec. 17. Reports from Flagstaff, Arizona and La Plata, Argentina, state Skjellerup Comet is visible to the naked eye, but astronomers in New York and Washington failed to see it. United States Naval Observatory astronomer made a flight in an aeroplane to a height of ten thousand feet, but a very high layer of haze prevented observation. It is expected it will tie visible to tlio naked eye in every part of the Western Hempishere within a day or two. Doctor Slipher, Director of Lowell Observatory Flagstaff described tho comet as follows: “It is unusually brilliant. It was brighter than Venus at the maximum of brilliancy on Friday even though the dazzling rays of sun extended to the region. This indicates it was of minus five magnitude at the time. The length of tail visible to the naked oyo was about half a degree, or the diameter of the full moon.

“A spectroscope analysis of the comet’s light shows the latter to he practically all reflected sunlight. Direct photographs of the cornet show it to have a small nucleus, varying considerably in shape from elongated to circular form, with nets directed towards the sun. Conspicuous envelopes were visible on the sunward side of the nucleus. LONDON, Dec. 18. Hanover Observatory sighted Ske.jollerup’s comet and believes it will he visible from sundown during the next few days. . ENGLAND BLAMED. NEAV YORK, Dec. 18. Viscount Rothennere, who is visiting New York, in a despatch to the “Sunday Pictorial,” London, characterises the failure of Geneva- Naval Conference as a deplorable British blunder, and blames Sir A. Chamberlain principally.