“”Elements of the Orbit of the Comet”
Date
3-17-1812
Newspaper
Louisiana Gazette
Page and Column
Page 2. Column 3
Newspaper Location
New Orleans, Louisiana
Serial Number
928
Abstract
Astronomical information on the comet of 1811-1812.
Transcript
Elements of the Orbit of the Comet. Having been requested to rectify my elements of the Comet by actual observations I have the honour to communicate to you the result. The comet was nearest the sun on the 12th of September. It was seen 39 millions of leagues distant from the body, and 34 millions of leagues from the earth. From the above date, its distance from the sun will increase and its distance from the earth will decrease, till about the middle of October, when the least distance of the comet from the earth will be still more than 31 millions of leagues. It is not probable that the brilliance of the comet will go on increasing; for it will lose somewhat more of its luminous aspect by its removal from the Sun, than it will gain by its approximation to the earth. In general the situation of the orbit of this comet is such, that it can never approach very near the earth. The nucleus of this comet appears separated from its coma, which surrounds it in the form of a parabolic [unreadable]. This appearance, which has not been observed in other comets, is ascertained by the observations of the astronomers of Paris, and will doubtless be confirmed by [unreadable] of other astronomers. Probably however, it does not at all follow [unreadable] is absolutely detached from the comet, as the space with appears void may be filled with particles much less luminous than the rest of the comet. The following are the elements of the orbit of this comet:--Perihelion distance, 1,022.41. The distance of its passages by the perihelion, 48 minutes past nine in [unreadable] of the 12th of September 1811-Ascending [unreadable], 140 deg 13 min. [unreadable], 72 deg. 48 min. Place of the perihelion, 74 deg. 12 min. BURKHARDT; Member of the Institute.
Recommended Citation
"“”Elements of the Orbit of the Comet”" (1812). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 902.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/902
