CHAMELEON COMET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 321, 12 January 1909, Page 4

CHAMELEON COMET.

SIX TAILS NOW VISIISLE. I'AKIS. November 14The. extraordinary changes of the Morehouse cornel arc occupying the attention of :\ll European astronomers. When it first appeared it showed a tail: curlv in October, however, the tail coinpletely disappeared until tlie middle of the month, when live ilistinet tails showed.

The famous French astronomer, If. I'lanimarion, now writes from liis observatory to tlie Paris edition of the New York Herald that tlie comet shows six distinct tails, projected with violence behind il in straight lines. This furious phenomenon is due to the repulsive, force of light pressure from the sun. According to the theories of Clerk-Maxwell and other aslnmoin'ers, the tail of the comet is made up of inliuitelv small stones rather than mere dust or-gas. But Jl. Flaniiiiarion thinks from the photographs which lie lias lakci that live tails are composed of extremelv ravified gas, cynnogen, which is being dissipated in the vast expanses of space.

Resides eviuo'gen, various hydrocarbons as vet lmkTioivn lo tcrrcslrial chemistry 'have been delected in the cimiel's spectrum. I'lirlho? ohscrvalions arc being taken, and their results will be awaited with interest-.