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Literary
July 7, 1814
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
The article explores scholarly debates on comets' tails and orbital dynamics, noting the sun's contradictory attractions at perihelion and aphelion. It mentions two comet types with divine purposes, clarifies tails appear only in recession, and proposes the tail as visible electric matter from velocity through charged regions.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Much perplexity exists in the learned world, even in the present day, respecting the cause of the stream of light which proceeds from a Comet; and which we usually denominate its tail. And much enquiry has been exhausted to ascertain why it is, that a Comet is acted upon by the sun in the exercise of one of his acknowledged properties, in two ways exactly the contrary. That is, say those gentlemen, who, to do them justice, deserve much credit for their labors, the sun by the exercise of his attractive power draws a comet at the rate of many millions of miles in a few hours; when, at the instant it reaches its Perihelium, the effect gets the better of the cause that produced it, when its recession becomes as rapid as were its advancements--'till it reaches its Aphelion, when it is again attracted, and vice versa.
Again, we are told that there are two kinds of Comets, which act very different parts & are designed by the Almighty Creator to answer very different purposes. And, says the same author, it remains for generations yet to come to distinguish their various and distinct uses; and to call them by different and appropriate names. One sort are said to have tails and the other none. The next page however proposes a solution of the difficulty, for it is said that Comets have no tails but in their recession from the sun. Thus we are relieved from that state of doubt and assurance of ignorance, by a solution of the difficulty, which but a short time before had been reserved for the investigation of posterity.
Another author tells us, that a Comet's tail is its atmosphere, and is only visible in an opposite direction from the sun; but which nevertheless encircles it on all sides to an equal distance with that part which is visible. Now it is not our intention to follow those learned men in their researches, or to attempt a canvassing of their opinions. As it respects the Comet's tail, leaving its dances over the Heavens from the sun and back again--and the different kinds that exist--We say, leaving these points to be discussed by wiser heads than ours, we should just intimate our belief that a Comet's tail is nothing more nor less than electric matter made visible by the velocity with which the Comet passes thro' the region which abounds with it--and
Again, we are told that there are two kinds of Comets, which act very different parts & are designed by the Almighty Creator to answer very different purposes. And, says the same author, it remains for generations yet to come to distinguish their various and distinct uses; and to call them by different and appropriate names. One sort are said to have tails and the other none. The next page however proposes a solution of the difficulty, for it is said that Comets have no tails but in their recession from the sun. Thus we are relieved from that state of doubt and assurance of ignorance, by a solution of the difficulty, which but a short time before had been reserved for the investigation of posterity.
Another author tells us, that a Comet's tail is its atmosphere, and is only visible in an opposite direction from the sun; but which nevertheless encircles it on all sides to an equal distance with that part which is visible. Now it is not our intention to follow those learned men in their researches, or to attempt a canvassing of their opinions. As it respects the Comet's tail, leaving its dances over the Heavens from the sun and back again--and the different kinds that exist--We say, leaving these points to be discussed by wiser heads than ours, we should just intimate our belief that a Comet's tail is nothing more nor less than electric matter made visible by the velocity with which the Comet passes thro' the region which abounds with it--and
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Nature
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Comet Tail
Perihelion
Aphelion
Electric Matter
Almighty Creator
Astronomical Debate
Literary Details
Key Lines
Much Perplexity Exists In The Learned World, Even In The Present Day, Respecting The Cause Of The Stream Of Light Which Proceeds From A Comet; And Which We Usually Denominate Its Tail.
We Should Just Intimate Our Belief That A Comet's Tail Is Nothing More Nor Less Than Electric Matter Made Visible By The Velocity With Which The Comet Passes Thro' The Region Which Abounds With It And