Page:The story of the comets.djvu/204

152 unsymmetrical, considered in relation to the greater part of the tail; and that on one occasion the comet seems to have thrown off a mass of matter which became, and for several days was observed as, a distinct comet. The changes which took place in the nucleus and head were noted and described by many observers. Prince wrote:—

"Oct. 13.—I could notice, however, that there was a decided change in the appearance of the nucleus. Instead of being of an oval shape, it had become a long flickering column of light in the direction of the tail."

"Oct. 20.—I noticed, however, at once, that a still further change had occurred in the nucleus since the 13th, which amounted, in fact, to its disruption into at least 3 portions."

THE GREAT COMET OF 1882. FORMATION OF THE NUCLEUS. (C. L. Prince.)

"Oct. 23.—The disruption of the nucleus which I had noticed on the 20th was now fully apparent. The nucleus proper had become quite linear, having upon it the 4 distinct points of condensation which I have endeavoured to represent in the subjoined sketch.

"It must be understood that the accompanying woodcut is to be considered rather as a diagram of the head of the comet than as a view of what I actually observed, and that the points in question are somewhat exaggerated in size, as well as the linear character of the nucleus itself. I found it was very difficult to represent, by means of a wood-block, such a nebulous object; but I think it will serve to illustrate the nature of the wonderful disruption, and the relative distance of the several portions inter se: a was the most difficult portion to discern; b was by far the brightest of all; c was considerably less bright than b; and d was nearly as faint an object as a, and not quite so large. The linear nucleus, with these points of condensation upon it, was surrounded by a distinct oblong coma, which was rounded off at the lower extremity, while the upper portion, following the direction of the tail, terminated more decidedly in a point. Mr. G. J. Symons, F.R.S., was with me in the observatory, and his impression was that there were five points of condensation, and he remarked that 'the nucleus was like