Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/60



Nno 1668. the 10th of March h.I. of the following night, (after the Italian way of counting) at Bononio, I observed a path of Light extended from the Whale through Eridanus; which I judged to be the Train of a Comet, both by the Figure and Colour, as also because that the direction of it, being by the Fancy continued, seem'd to proceed unto the 21. degr. of Pisces, where the Sun then was, and so tended to the part opposit to the Sun, like other Comets. By its extreme point it reached to that Star in Eridanus, which is called the Fourteenth by Bayerus: But it issued out of the Horizontal Clouds, so that I thought, the Head of the Comet was either vailed by them, or hid under the Horizon. It followed the Motion of diurnal revolution Westward, and it was to be seen about the second hour of the night; for then it was demersed in the mists of the Horizon.

Not far from its pointed end Eastward, there appeared a Star, equal to the brightest of the Fourth magnitude, almost in the same place, where was observ'd the Comet of A. 1664. Decemb. 31. which Star was not then seen, nor at other times elsewhere, nor is described in any Catalogue, on any Globe or Map, that I can learn; which therefore I deem to be a New one, that is, of new appearance.

March 11:at even the Horizon was in the West overcast with thin Clouds; among which after one hour of the night, there was seen a Brightness in the Whale, at least for half an hour, which was very like the splendour of Venus, likewise vailed by thin clouds.

March 12.at night, the lower parts of the Heavens in the West were clouded, and when the Great Dog-star was in the Mid-heaven, the same Tail appear'd again. It passed through the Star in Eridanus, which Bayerus calls the 15th, and left to the Rh