MR PROCTOR ON THE COMET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1318, 9 April 1883, Page 3

MR PROCTOR ON THE COMET.

The Illustrated London News of the 2lßt October gives an interesting paper by Mr R. A. Proctor- on tho comet, with diagram illustrating its orbit, which closely approximates to that of the comet of 1843. From observations made aVVionna, he concludes that the comet is retreating on a path which it will circuit in less than a year, whether it be the oneof 1696, 1843, and 1380 cotno back or not. But his opinion of its final destination is accompanied bv a declaration that its absorption by the sun will riot do us any harm, Ho says: —" It seeniß certain then (if we can depend on the Vienna observation of the 24thJ, knowing as we certainly do, that the comet was at its nearest to the sun on 14th September,'that before many months are over we shall see it bsckagain, and return in ever narrowing circuits, and ever-shortened periods, until finally it will, circle round the sun % a few hours,.f6 be constantly retarded by fractional resistance, but accelerated in a greater degree by resulting in a rush towards the sun, until finally each portion of its substance reaches the sun's surface; with a velocity of about 260 miles per second. That aurface is itself moving inan almost exactly contrary direction, with a velocity of a little more than a mile per second. There will then, in all probability be considerable disturbance, but, although the idea is now utterly exploded that comets are films of vapour, the total mass of th» comet thus destroyed is, I conceive,- too small for any such increase of heat to be produced as will seriously trouble the inhabitants of the earth.