Comets

Two comets were visible to the naked eye last week. The fact was of scientific interest but the show was not spectacular. Discovered by a Japanese amateur named Sigura Kaho, one comet was a tiny blob hanging in the northwestern sky for a few minutes after sundown. The other was the comet found two months ago by Leslie C. Peltier, famed amateur of Delphos, Ohio (TIME, June 7). Laymen who hunted out the Peltier object, hoping to see a big, bright feather similar to Halley's comet in 1910, were disappointed. Unless they had binoculars they saw nothing but a blur, no brighter than the dimmest member of the Big Dipper.

This week, however, the Peltier comet continued to approach Earth. When first discovered it was only ten degrees from the North Star. Since then it has swung past the constellations of Cepheus and Cassiopeia in its elliptical path around the Sun. At its closest approach on Aug. 4, it will be in the constellation Aquarius, halfway from horizon to zenith in the southeastern sky. It will then be 15,800,000 mi. from Earth. Observers equipped with good field glasses or small telescopes (8-power or better) will have a fine view of the tail driven off from the comet by radiation pressure from the Sun.

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