THE NEW COMET

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1932, Page 3

THE NEW COMET

STORY OF DISCOVERY QffiTSX?.' • ; Vj q BM-tifDUNEDIN;.c July .14. recently - aroused in as.tfononiical,'Sirdes by the announcement tln\t. a new comet had conie within range of'telSWfopic vision and it is a gratifying circumstance that the credit for making this discovery belongs to an, Otago observer. Some further particulars of the discovery, of "the comet have, been furnished by its :finder, Mr M. Geddes, sole teacher at the Otekura School, South Otago, after whom the new .wanderer of the skies has been named. “At the time,” said Mr Geddes, “I was engaged in sweeping for comets over the region of the skyi close to the smith celestial pole. 1 had been so engaged for about 15 minutes, when l noticed a hazy object of which I could find no record cn my star map. 1 therefore made a drawing of the surround-i-g star field so that on returning to it later I should be able to note any evi-

dence of ,motion, as this, is the only means of .distinguishing between a telescopic- coijiet and a faint cluster of stars or nebulae; Thus, when half an hour later I again observed the object, and saw,that it had moved I had no hesitation in deciding that it was definitely a comet. I .might add that my instrument is a five-inch refractor which was loaned .to .fine by the Government at the beginning ,of this year. It- is one of the instrument which was used by the' Eclipse Expedition to Niautoo Island: in 19,30.” . ' Mr Geddes was educated at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, and during tire years .1928-29.,. attended tlie Dunedin Training College and Otago University. ,| The greater papt ij' his astronomical experience was gained at the observatory of the New Plymouth Astronomical Society, where lie had the good fortune to he associated with the Director, Mr Morshegd, who ; is also the director of the comet section of the New. Zealand Astronomical Society, At,present, Mr.Geddes, is the director of the aurorae and zodiacal light section of the New Zealand Astronomical Society. \ ' ' *.» . V • . / V-.