The New Comet A 1910

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 15, 1910

The New Comet A 1910

Many in different parts of the country, and especially in the West, have been interested in a new comet seen very close to the horizon immediately after sunset. It has been spoken of as Halley's comet, but this is not the case. Halley's comet is in a different part of the sky, and yet too faint to be readily observed with the naked eye. It shows also without a tail; but this new comet, called by astronomers "A 1910," because it is the first one which has appeared this year, is really a sort of marvel. Its tail streams up one third of the way from the horizon to the zenith. Besides that it is a dual or split tail. The cause of this is unknown. Astronomers call it a celestial phenomenon. From Guadalajara, Mexico, we learn that with the appearance of the comet pilgrimages to the Virgin of Talpa are being organized, many of the pilgrims making the journey for miles on their knees. This comet has been called a tramp comet, wandering out of its course in some way, and observed for the first time. Astronomers predict ten other visitants of this character during the year. Among them are Encke's comet, which comes every three and one fourth years; Temple's comet, first appearing in 1867, and every six years nearly since; D'Arrest's comet, which comes about every six and one half years; and Brook's comet, which appeared for the second time in 1867, and now comes once in a little over every seven years. How many of these will be visible we are not told, and perhaps the astronomers themselves know as little about it as do we.