No Smog or Lights to Dim Coming of Halley’s Comet
Like John F. Carlucci (Letters, March 15), I and my family and neighbors in Redlands witnessed the coming and going of Halley’s comet in April, 1910. The smogless air was clear as crystal. After sundown the huge comet covering perhaps one-sixth of the sky was magnificently visible over Mt. San Bernardino. There were no street lights to dim the spectacle.
The next night the comet was directly over head after sunset and the third night it appeared low in the west, not to be seen again until 1986.
Newspapers reported that many children were kept out of school as the Earth passed through the tail of the heavenly visitor. Others feared that the end of the world was at hand. Some committed suicide. Still others gathered in religious groups to meet whatever might befall.
I have waited 76 years to see the comet again although I understand that it will not be so bright or appear so large because its closest approach to the Earth will be 2 1/2 times greater than in 1910. And we have the street lights, and the smoke and the smog.
But for better or worse we will see this phenomenon again and we will not need telescopes to make it visible.
WILSON O. WADE
Redondo Beach
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
