THE COMET.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 148, 23 June 1881, Page 1

THE COMET.

Mr TebbuM, <be first discoveror of the comet, writing from Windsor, N.S.W., in reference to it eaya that be pointoJ out on tbe 26 h ultimo the remark^ble circumstance that the present visitor was found nearly at (Le same time of tbe year &a tbe comet of 1861. " It is further remarkable," s ys Mr Tehbuit, " dißt tbe apparent track of our present visitor is suaiewhat similar to the comet of 1861. The comet dow visible is ooviously approaching the eartb, daily increasing its motion northwards in declination, wbila its ri^ht ascension varies comparatively but little. It see us probable that it is moving towards conjunction with the sun, and tbat its tail will, as a consequence, become an imposing object in tbe course of a few days. Tbe moon, however, greatly diminishes the effect. On tbe whole, there ia much to warrant the suspicion at least, tint cur visitor is moving in an orbit which somewhat resembles that of the great comet of 1861, but after all it only a suspicion. Nothing positive can be advanced till tbe orbit is computed, and this work, I regret to s&y, I shall be oblige 1 to leave to others. Although urged by some to underteke tbe calculations, I cannot venture iu my present weuk state of bealih to add this labour to my other importune uvoc^tiona. In to-day's Herald there is a telegrtm whioh gives it as the opinion of Mr Todd tbat tbe present comet is probably a return of the great one of 1861, and also identical with tbat of 1819 discovered by Professor Trallee. While agreeing with Mr Todd, who, by the way, has probably not yet computed ibe elements, ibat the apparent tra.k of our comet is sufficient to mttke us suspect that it is tLOviug in ao orbit eocne-whai resembling that of tbo great comet of 1861, I must totally dissent from his view that the conoetc of 1819, 1861, and 1881 are identical. If they are identical, what becomes of the elaborate investigations of the orbit of the comet oi 1861, more especially (he definitive determination by Dr. Kroatz, of the Royal Obstrvatory at Bonn, from observations extending overs period of eleven months ?