Abstract
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BRORSEN-METCALF COMET.—The Astrophysical Journal for March contains some photographs of this comet taken by Prof. Barnard on 1919 October 5, 6, 20, and 22. The tail is shown as fully 6° long, composed of several narrow straight streamers forming a fan. They radiate from a point somewhat behind the centre of the head. About October 20 the comet discarded its tail, and formed a new one inclined 12° to the old. Prof. Barnard notes that similar phenomena have been observed in Borrelly's comet, 1903 July 24, in Morehouse's comet on several dates in 1908, and in Halley's comet on 1910 June 6 (probably also in April).
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Our Astronomical Column. Nature 105, 467 (1920). https://doi.org/10.1038/105467a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/105467a0