SECTION II - DO COMETS EXERCISE ANY INFLUENCE UPON THE SEASONS?

Summary

Study of the question by Arago–The calorific action of comets upon the earth appears to be inappreciable–Comparison of the meteorological statistics of various years in which comets did and did not appear–The meteorological influence of a comet is not yet proved by any authentic fact.

We have already said how general a consternation was created in 1832 by the announcement that Biela's comet would pass within a very short distance of the orbit of the earth. Arago made it the occasion of one of those brilliant and interesting notices in which he endeavoured to destroy existing prejudices, and to render the simple truths of astronomy better and more generally understood. The heading of one section of this notice was–

‘ Will the future Comet modify in any appreciable degree the Course of the Seasons of the year 1832?’ To this question he replies in the following terms :– ‘ The above title will doubtless call to mind the beautiful comet of 1811, the high temperature of that year, the abundant harvest following, and, above all, the excellent quality of the comet wine. I am therefore well aware that I shall have to contend with many prejudices in order to establish that neither the comet of 1811, nor any other known comet, has ever occasioned the smallest change in the seasons.