92 



H. A Newton — The Story of BielcCs Comet. 



because the small bodies glance as they strike the air, just as 

 a stone skips on the water. In fact, we often see the meteors 

 glance in the air — the paths being crooked. " 



The meteors came from the northern sky. A German 

 astronomer, Professor Klinkerfues, at once thought that if this 



Fig. 13. — Meteors seen in Italy, Nov. 27, 18*72. 



was the main body of the comet it ought to be visible as it 

 went off from us. For this, however, we must see the southern 

 sky. He telegraphed to Mr. Pogson at Madras in India : 

 "Biela touched earth Nov. 27. Search near Theta Centauri." 

 Mr. Pogson looked for the comet and found it. On two morn- 

 ings he saw a round comet with decided nucleus, and having 

 on the second morning a tail eight minutes long. But clouds 

 and rain returned the next day. This is the last that has 

 been seen of Biela's comet. 



Was this Pogson comet one of the two parts of Biela seen 

 in 1845 and 1852? This is yet an open question among 

 astronomers. It may have been, but I think it was' not. The 

 Biela comets should have been nearly 200,000,000 miles away. 



