BIELA’S COMET

named after Wilhelm von Biela, a German astronomer who, in 1826, first made observations of a comet which had been noticed by other astronomers in 1772 and 1805. It appeared again in 1839 and in November, 1845. On this latter occasion what was regarded as one of the most remarkable phenomena in the history of astronomy was observed to take place; the comet split in two, the tail disappearing while this was taking place. In August, 1852, the larger of the two divisions appeared, and three weeks later the other portion made itself visible. The distance between the two portions being about 1,500,000 miles. This was the last occasion on which this peculiar body, or bodies, was seen. It is surmised that the two portions of the comet broke up into star dust.