

PHYSICAL CONSTITUTION OF COMETS. j;i7 



In the year 1844* two comets appeared, the first of whic-h w as scon in ?..- 

 month of July. It was described to have a bright white color tint its t ,ii 

 was turned from the earth so as not to be visible to us. Stars of very - 

 magnitude were visible through its body, ami its light was s 

 said to be easily detected in the heavens, in Curope, during the bright 

 of July. A drawing of this comet, obtained ;u th Royal ObservatoiT, 

 is annexed. 





The second comet of 1844 was seen in ihe month of September. It \v:is 

 observed at Kensington, by Sir James South, on the evening of the loth. In 

 the course of that month a drawing was obtained of it by the assistance of Sir 



The following note is annexed to the last edition of Nicbol'e Solar System, relative to one of tLe 

 comets of 1843: 



" As this volume is leaving the press, intelligence has been received of 11 new cotr.ot being 



to our system. Its orbit ha/becu determined by the illustrious Gauss, and its period in nearly Bevcn r 

 yearn. 



" The importance of this fact cannot well be overrated ; for. along with EncXe'* nnd Biola s, it 

 must advance oar know'edpe of some of the mysterious points connected with tlie eaotftoMM "t 

 tho planetary scheme. We are yet ignorant whether tliis body ha merely i ot lw<>n (/b-erveil 

 till MOW, or whether, like Lexell's. it has beeu construined into a new orbit by die action of 0oot 

 I'lant't.-. ' 



