2-982-464 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Telescopic Appearances of Donati's Comet, as seen from the Cambridge Observatory, Sept. 24, 8p.m, 1858. 'As it but seldom happens that such a favourable opportunity occurs for examining the changes which take place in the head and nucleus of a large comet approaching to and receding from the sun as in the magnificent object which has just disappeared from sight, a few particulars respecting those may not be misplaced in the columns of the Illustrated London News...On Sept. 24 the luminous sector had stretched out for a very considerable distance; the margins were extremely bright, and almost met the outer portions of the head. The outer and brightest part of the luminous sector was considerably more than a semicircle, and seemed like a miniature of a solar halo, the nucleus of the comet taking the position of the sun. The space below the nucleus and fantail-light, as seen in an inverting telescope [and in the engraving] was nearly quite black, with the exception of the margins of the tail'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.