3-052-584 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Comet in the Southern Hemisphere, as viewed from the Wellington, Queen Charlotte's Sound, 1880. 'The Australian newspapers have announced the appearance of a large comet in the south-western heavens...Owing to the misty state of the air and the closeness of the comet to the sun, no favourable observations could be made in Melbourne on the first or second night...Occasionally the sky cleared, so that a view could be obtained nearly down to the horizon, but the nucleus of the comet was not visible. The tail had slightly diminished in brightness from the previous evening, and was rather less curved. It appeared to be almost perpendicular to the horizon...Its length had considerably increased since Tuesday evening..."A long stream of lustrous light...is visible a little above the horizon in the western heavens. It appears to be making an easterly course"...Through the courtesy of Mr. Charles C. Graham, the Town Clerk of Wellington, New Zealand, we are able to present our readers with a sketch showing the extraordinary appearance of the comet on the night of Feb. 6, taken from the steamer Wellington...As it loomed behind one of the numerous peaks skirting the sound it had the appearance of an active volcano'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.