Science: Milkman’s Comet

The brightest comet of 1948 was visible this week, but only early birds and milkmen got a good look at it: the comet could be seen only for a short time before dawn. In the north temperate zone its rising tail appeared above the southeastern horizon just ahead of the sun. The best view was from a hilltop away from bright city lights.

Official discoverer of the new comet was Professor John Paraskevopoulos of Harvard’s observatory near Bloemfontein, South Africa, who reported his find on Nov. 7. Other southern hemisphere astronomers spotted it about the same time, as did at least one nonscientific night owl. Captain Frank McGann of Panagra saw the comet from his Clipper as he flew over the Caribbean on Nov. 4, and reported it to his base in Miami.

According to Dr. Leland Cunningham, comet expert of the University of California, “McGann-Paraskevopoulos” (official name: 1948-L) is now moving away from the sun, having passed closest to it on Oct. 27. It is about 50 million miles from the earth and will not come any nearer. Its tail is more than 15° long, 30 times the breadth of the full moon, and its head is estimated to be of the second magnitude in brightness (this is brighter than all except 41 stars in the sky). The comet will fade slowly, but it will appear a little earlier every day. Early risers or late-to-bedders will have a better chance to look at it before it vanishes into outer space.