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The New Comet

Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 437

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

At one o'clock on the 22d of November, 1843, a comet only visible through a telescope, was discovered near Gramma, of Orion, by M. Faye, an astronomer attached to the Royal Observatory at Paris. Notwithstanding the clouds and vapours [vapors] which impeded the view, and rendered the observation uncertain, the position of the star was ascertained to be as follows:-On the 22d of November, 1843, at 14 hours 44 minutes 11 seconds, medium time of Paris, reckoned from mid-day, the right ascension of the comet was 81 deg. 56 min. The sky was so cloudy on the following night, that it was only on the 24th that the comet was again seen, when its position was ascertained with complete precision. On the 24th of November, 1843, at 17 h. 4 min. 43 sec. medium time of Paris, counted from mid-day, the right ascension of the comet was 80 deg. 50 min. 42 sec. Boreal declension of the comet, 6 deg. 30 min. 35 sec. Thus the apparent right ascension of the comet diminished by seven minutes of a degree within about 24 hours, and in the same interval of time the declension likewise diminished by 12 minutes. This comet presents a head so distinct, that the observations are singularly facilitated. From the head, slight trains of light diverge nearly opposite to the sun. This tail is at present in length about four minutes of a degree.-London Paper.