NEW COMET SEEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 519, 23 November 1928, Page 16

NEW COMET SEEN

VISIBLE TO NAKED EYE Press Association WELLINGTON, Thursday. A new comet was discovered yesterday at 2 a.m. of magnitude six, that is, it is a bright comet visible to the naked eye. Its right ascension is 12h 8m 28s declination 21 degrees 42 minutes south The right ascension is increasing -0 minutes of arc a day and declinad > 'i l y inCreaSillSr S ° UthWards 50 minute s The comet is in the constellation Corvus (the Crow), about three hours in advance of the sun, and therefore ma-y do seen in the early morning. As the comet is visible to the naked eye it is classed among the “brieht” comets, of which there are few. At the same time it is little brighter than the faintest stars visible to the unaided eye and is not a conspicuous object The constellation Corvus may be seen rising due east about 2 a.m. It is a group of four fairly bright stars in the form of quadrilateral. The comet’s motion is roughly directed toward the sun and it is moving a third of a degree a day. These facts indicate that it is probably nearing its-perihelion, or closest approach to the sun, and therefore cannot grow much brighter. Several faint telescopic comets have already been discovered this year and several periodic comets are due to return, hut this comet appears to be an unexpected visitor.