“Observations on the comet....”

Date

1-14-1812

Newspaper

Edenton Gazette

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2

Newspaper Location

Edenton, North Carolina

Serial Number

869

Abstract

Long article on observations of the comet of 1811-1812 as observed from Edenton, North Carolina

Transcript

OBSERVATIONS On the COMET, which appeared in 1811; BY A GENTLEMEAN OF EDENTON. This Comet approached the Sun in a direction, from, somewhere between the south and east, but was not visible from the Earth, in our hemisphere in consequence of its being constantly within the Sun's rays. I have reason to believe, that it passed about the distance of 28 deg. of the semediameter of the earth's orbit, beyond the sun, and as much below his center, but in order to render my ideas upon the subject, as clear and distinct as possible, let us conceive a line drawn from the earth's center, through the center of the sun, and to extend beyond him. Then let us also conceive another line, of the length of 56 deg. to be drawn through the sun, and that beyond the sun, so much depressed below, the first supposed line. Upon the same principle, as the axis of the ecliptic, in crossing the polar axis, forms in angle each way, of 23 deg. 28 min. or thereabouts,--that the Comet commenced its perihelium, when it intersected that point, where the second line is conceived to have terminated, beyond the sun, from whence it began its curvature, keeping at the same distance nearly, and regularly rising, until it came in contact with a third line supposed, to be drawn due north and south, through the suns center, and intersecting the first line, at right angles; when it may be said, to have arrived at its true perihelium; that it continued its curvature and elevation in the same ratio, until it arrived at, or came in contact, with that end of the second line, near the earth, when its curvature ceased, which I conceive, the observations hereafter made, will pretty clearly establish. From the best calculations I could make, on the first view I had of it, which was about forty-five minutes after 7 o'clock in the evening, of the 6th of September, its apparent place, was about 5 deg. or 6 deg. to the eastward of the bright star regulus in the Queen Lyon, and probably as much or something more, to the westward of the star in the Foot of Ursa Major; its hearing appeared to me, to be about north 47 deg. west, but at this I maybe mistaken, having no opportunity of ascertaining that fact; the sun on that day, was in the 15 deg. of Virgo, and must have descended 18 deg. below the horizon, before the Comet became visible, the earth of course was in the 15 deg. of Pices, being the opposite sign and degree of the Zodiac. From thence, the Comet moved with great velocity in a direct line very near the center star, in the tail of ursa Major, and continuing the same course, passed about 10 deg. west of the bright star Lyra, or the Dragons Head, as it is by some called, and thence near the largest star, in the right leg of Hercules.-From observations made, by the eye only in the evening of the 10th of November I conjectured, that the Comet would pass, the bright star, in the body of the Eagle, which is only about 7 deg. north of the Equator, and would cross the Equator, through the head of Anti Nous-this conjecture has been complicated verified, the Comet having passed the body of the Eagle on the third of December, and so near that star, as to come almost in contact with it, and has since passed the Equator, at the precise place at that time supposed, which proves, that its course through the fixed stars, ever since its first appearance, has been in a direct line nearly, and also proves, the great excentricity of its orbit-from whence I conclude, that its tract through the fixed stars, as seen from the sun, between the 6th of September, and the present time, has been about south 60 deg. east, and so would have appeared from our part of the earth had that, been fixed and immoveable, but the earth, having in the mean time, recorded 115 deg, to the eastward, in its orbit round the sun, and having also gone something more than 23 deg. 28 min. to the north, has constantly kep, the Comets apparent place, to the westward of the earth, where by its eastern direction, has been but little observed, but this by no means disproves its course through the fixed stars, because the bright star in the body of the Eagle, on the 6th of September, was 115 deg. to the eastward, of what it is at present, at least, that is the apparent differences, as seen from the earth. The velocity of the Comet's motion, has been regularly decreasing ever since its first appearance; and if it be governed by the same laws, as the primary and secondary planets are, will continue to decreased until it arrives at its aphelion, and therefore, it will be attended with some difficult, to ascertain its periodical return, unless, indeed, it could be first ascertained how far it will run out in expansum, before it arrives at its aphelion, and perhaps a knowledge of this fact might not be altogether sufficient, to solve the difficulty. I believe it is established, beyond the probability of a doubt, that the velocity of the primary planets, is as the cubes of their distances, are from the center of the sun, and that the velocity of the secondary planets, is as the cubes of their distances, are from the center of their primaries, and therefore, the sidrel and syndical revolutions of those that are constantly seen, (generally speaking) may be sufficiently ascertained, but which cannot be the case, with respect to the Comets, for the reasons above mentioned. It is not pretended, that the aforegoing observations are in all things strictly correct. They have been made from the visible appearance of the Comet, from time to time, as occasions presented, and the weather would permit, without the assistance of any instrument, to take its angular distances from the principal fixed stars, quadrant of altitude, or reference to tables of calculations, still I am induced to believe they are nearly correct, without descending to all the minutia, which would have been observed, by a professed Astronomer; such as its right ascension, declination, zenith distance, latitude, horary motion, decrease of Paralax, &c. It is with great diffidence, that I have ventured to hazard an opinion upon a subject, so little explored, and so little understood, by the most enlightened. And more particularly laboring under all the difficulties and disadvantages I have done, yet perhaps, some useful hints may be here given, to enable others, to correct those errors which must, unavoidably be found, on a critical examination of this essay. 31st December, 1811.

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