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Updated: June 3, 2025
The conviction grew that meteor swarms are really the debris of comets; and this conviction became a practical certainty when, in November, 1872, the earth crossed the orbit of the ill-starred Biela, and a shower of meteors came whizzing into our atmosphere in lieu of the lost comet. And so at last the full secret was out.
Analogous symptoms of a loose state of aggregation have of late been not unfrequently detected in telescopic comets, besides the instances of actual division offered by those connected with the names of Biela and Liais. The forces concerned in producing these effects seem to have been peculiarly energetic in the great comet of 1882.
Shortly afterwards another comet, revolving in a period of about six years, was discovered by Biela, and given his name. Only two more of these short-period comets were discovered during the first half of last century, but latterly they have been shown to be a numerous family.
Without the meteorograph, rigid accuracy in the observation of shooting stars is unattainable, and rigid accuracy is the sine quâ non for obtaining exact knowledge. Biela does not offer the only example of cometary disruption. But a division once established, separation must continually progress.
BIELA. A considerable ring-plain, about 55 miles in diameter, S.W. of Janssen, with a wall broken on the N.W., S., and E. by rings and large enclosures. There is a central mountain, but apparently no other details on the floor. ROSENBERGER. This formation, about 50 miles in diameter, is one of the remarkable group of large rings to which Vlacq, Hommel, Pitiscus, &c., belong.
Since then the Biela meteors have been among the recognized periodic spectacles of the sky, and few if any doubt that they represent a portion of the missing comet whose disintegration began with the separation into two parts in 1846. The comet itself has never since been seen.
In 1826 Biela, of Josephstadt, Austria, discovered a comet to which his name was given. Calculation showed that it had an orbital period of about six and a half years, belonging to Jupiter's ``family. On one of its returns, in 1846, it astonished its watchers by suddenly splitting in two.
In appearance it might have passed well enough for one of the Biela twins. It had no tail, but a decided nucleus, and was about 45 seconds across, being thus altogether below the range of naked-eye discernment. It was again observed December 3, when a short tail was perceptible; but overcast skies supervened, and it has never since been seen. Its identity accordingly remains in doubt.
Denning were right in supposing the display to have proceeded from "an associated branch of the main swarm through which we passed in 1872 and 1885." The existence of separated detachments of Biela meteors, due to disturbing planetary action, was contemplated as highly probable by Schiaparelli.
The new Turkish commander-in-chief, Mehemet Ali, gathered a formidable array in front of Shumla and drove the Russian army now led by the Cesarewich back on Biela, but failed to pierce their lines.
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