2-982-468 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Telescopic Appearances of Donati's Comet, as seen from the Cambridge Observatory, Sept. 30, 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. 30...the nucleus, which was very bright, again exhibited a disc (which appeared slightly oval), and was surrounded by the same well-defined halo, which formed nearly a complete circle. On this night a straight and narrow but perfectly black line, which separated the tail into two nearly equal parts, was seen for the first time, and stretched for a very considerable distance from the head'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.