RECENT CELESTIAL PHENOMENA. 203 



MARCH 11, 1885— THIRTY-FIFTH STATED MEETING. 



Prof. W. B. Dwight, chairman, presiding ; many 



members and guests present. 



In the absence of its author, a paper by Prof. Maria 

 Mitchell, entitled "Recent Celestial Phenomena," was 

 read by Miss Mary Whitney. In consequence of its 

 having been published elsewhere, a brief abstract only 

 will be given here. 



Prof. Mitchell spoke of the failure on the part of as- 

 tronomers interested in the search for a supposed planet 

 within the orbit of Mercury, to establish a belief in such 

 a body. She called attention to the fact that red protu- 

 berances around the sun were not observed prior to 

 1842. Where were they previously % Since 1869 all 

 observers have noted the vivid color of these prominences. 



Comets have been very frequent of late years. That 

 of 1843 threw a train from horizon to zenith ; it passed 

 nearer to the sun than any other comet, and is supposed 

 to have penetrated its outer envelope. The most strik- 

 ing comet since 1843 has been that of 1858, which lighted 

 up the autumn skies all night. For scenic effects no 

 other comet has equalled that of 1858 for the last 

 seventy years. Within fifteen months, in the years 

 1881 and 1882, four large comets appeared — an occur- 

 rence never before reported. 



The "red glows" of the evening skies in late years 

 were discussed, and the unsatisfactory character of all 

 explanations hitherto given was shown. 



The height of the atmosphere of the earth was spoken 

 of as a question of great uncertainty. We know more 

 of the extent of the atmosphere of some other planets, 

 as of Jupiter, for instance, than of our own. 



A collision between some comet and the earth, at some 

 future time, was alluded to as quite possible ; but Ave 

 may anticipate benelicial or baneful results as equally 

 likely. 



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