THE COMET.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1704, 28 February 1888, Page 4

THE COMET.

The Auckland correspondent of tbo Press telegraphed on Friday :—The comet which is visible here early in the morning is, according to Professor Lambert, Olbet’fl, which was rediscovered by W. Ps Brooks Phelps, Ontario County, New York, on August 241 b last year. Computing from (ho latest elements of this comet’s orbit, he says : ‘ I find its present position answering well to that given by recent observers, thus leaving but very little doubt that jt is not a now comet, but the one a boy e mentioned. It passed Its perihelion on October Bth at a distance of 109,000*000 of miles;,and has «ince that dale been moving outwardly and in a southerly direction. As it is developing its tail, no doubt our European astrovomers will‘Watch this feature with interest before'the direction of its motion curries it oat of their reach.” Professor Stephenson . says : —“la is in the southeast in a somewhat region of (he heavens, Owin^;iq'the hazy state of the sky and the comet’s low attitude, a small telescope could only be employed to observe with, and its tail was well defined, gradually widening as it receded from the head. Owing to its great southern declination this comet will not be visible in Europe. At the present time tliers is no comet of any magnitude duo, so that the present vis:tor wiH probably prove to be a stranger. It is probably approaching the sun, and iu this case may be expected to become brighter in the course of a night or two. The tail is several degress in extent.