Great Comet of 1843. 413 



The nucleus of the comet, as observed by the naked eye, was distinctly 

 orbicular in form, its light equal to that of the moon in midnight in a 

 clear sky ; and its apparent size about one eighth the area of the full 

 moon. Some of the observers compared it to a small cloud strongly illu- 

 minated by the Sun. The train was of a paler light, gradually diverging 

 from the nucleus and melting away into the brilliant sky. To one ob- 

 server, the train seemed to diverge for nearly half its length, and then to 

 converge, forming a double convex figure. 



An observer at Woodstock, Vt. states that the comet was there seen at 

 noonday on the 28th, at an estimated distance of 5 U or 6° east from the 

 Sun. Its length was nearly 3°, and appeared like a small white cloud. 

 " On viewing it through a common three feet telescope of moderate power, 

 it presented a distinct and most beautiful appearance, — exhibiting a very 

 white and bright nucleus, and a tail dividing near the nucleus into two 

 separate branches, with the outer sides of each branch convex, and of 

 nearly equal length, apparently 8° or 10°, and a space between their ex- 

 tremities of 5° or 6°." 



The observers at New Bedford, estimated the brilliancy of the comet 

 to be equal to that of Venus, (intending doubtless her brilliancy at night,) 

 and the length of the tail about 3°. 



At Portland, Me., Capt. Clark measured the distance of the nucleus 

 from the nearest limb of the Sun, and found it to be 4° 6' 15". The 

 hour of observation is not stated, nor the direction of the body from the 

 Sun. 



It is not certain that the comet was seen by daylight after the 28th of 

 February. There is however some reason to suppose that it was seen the 

 next day by observers at Waterbury. On the 3d, 6th, and 7th of March 

 several unsuccessful attempts were made here to discover the comet while 

 the Sun was above the horizon. Many persons in various places imagin- 

 ed that they saw the comet in the day time during the first week in 

 March, with the naked eye, but they were probably deceived. It might 

 undoubtedly have been seen in suitable telescopes for several days fol- 

 lowing the 28th, and it is to be hoped, that the very important observa- 

 tions which could then have been made, were secured at some of the 

 European observatories. 



In the evening sky the train was detected, as a narrow luminous streak 

 in the twilight, by a few observers in this country, about the 1st of March, 

 but it appears to have received from them no special attention. On the 

 evening of the 2d of March it was seen in much brilliancy at St. Thom- 

 as, and in lower latitudes may have been seen in greater splendor a day 

 or two earlier. On the evening of the 3d it was observed at Key West, 

 and excited much attention. The next evening it was noticed at Water- 

 bury, and on the evening of the 5th also by several persons in this city. 

 On the evening of the 6th it was more generally observed. About seven 



