The works of that late most excellent philosopher and astronomer, Sir George Wharton, bar. collected into one volume / by John Gadbvry ...

Of the Comet, 1652.

UPon Wednesday the Eighth day of December, 1652. (Stilo veteri) about Nine a Clock at Night, I first beheld this Comet below the hinder-most Star in the Constellation of the Hare, but some few degrees to the East thereof. It was likewise seen the same Evening by Mr. Childrey of Feversham in Kent, (as I have it from a good hand) but neither he nor my self could as then perceive any Tail visible; what it had before the Moon was up, I know not. I have heard of some who say they saw it the sixth or seventh day: And 'tis very probable the first appear∣ance thereof might be about the Full Moon, (Dec. 5.) or rather (as I suppose) upon the Quartile of

Jupiter and Mars, Celebrated the seventh day of De∣cember, whereof more hereafter.

The 9th. day betwixt 7 and 8 in the Evening, I saw it the second time, under the Foot of Orion, not far from the Hares Eye; and then there appeared a dim Tail directly opposed the Sun, but after the Moon rose, the Tail was hardly visible. This Eve∣ning also it was observed by the Astronomical Reader of Gresham Colledge, (as I am inform'd) and after∣wards (so often as the Air would permit him) till it vanished. It is my unhappiness not to be acquainted with the Gentleman: Yet (by the means of a Noble Friend) I obtained the Longitude and Latitude there∣of, as he had found the same by Instrument, from whence I have since Calculated its Declination every day, and here together present them the Reader.

Ephemeris Cometae, Anni 1652.
Decemb.	Hor. Min.	Longitude.	Latitude.	Declination
9	7	0	V.	♊.	10	0′.	39°	10′	A.	16°	46′	A.
10	7	0	V.		5	29	27	51	A.	0	4	A.
11	11	0	V.		2	45	18	20	A.	2	46	B.
12	7	0	V.		1	0	9	0	A.	11	36	B.
14	11	0	V.	♉.	27	30	4	55	B.	24	21	B.
15	10	0	V.		25	30	9	10	B.	28	4	B.
16	10	0	V.		23	45	14	10	B.	32	25	B.
18	9	30	V.		22	50	19	0	B.	36	48	B.
19	9	0	V.		21	40	21	30	B.	38	50	B.
21	9	30	V.		20	40	25	30	B.	42	19	B.
22	8	0	V.		20	25	26	45	B.	43	25	B.
23	10	0	V.		20	10	28	10	B.	44	39	B.
25	10	0	V.		19	30	30	35	B.	46	41	B.
30	6	10	V.		18	50	33	30	B.	49	9	B.

By which we see it continued from the 6, 7, or 8. day of December till the 30. (at the least) on or about which day it vanished betwixt Perseus his Sword and Cassiopeia; having run through the first ten de∣grees of Gemini, and the last eleven degrees and ten minutes of Taurus, by a Retrograde Motion, and that perpetually decreasing. It changed its Latitude from South to North, intersecting the Ecliptique about the beginning of Gemini. It was Stella Caudata, not Crinita, as some supposed, because it had a visible Tail projected towards the North-East parts of the Earth.

Now let us hear, and adhere to the Doctrine of Ptolemy, lib. 2. cap. 8. Observandi sunt & Cometae, sive in deliquiis, sive alio quovis tempore effulserint in universalium eventuum consideratione, quales sunt quae vocantur Trabes, Tubae, Dolia ac hujusmodi; etenim Effectus hae pariunt, quales à Marte cientur, ac Mer∣curio; ut Bella Aestus, motus turbulentos, & alia quae ista sequi consueverunt. Caeterum quibus locis mini∣tentur & intentent effectus suos, ostendunt Zodiaci partes, sub quibus collectae ipsae & incensae, primum ex∣arserint; tum inclinationes Comarum Crinitae pro ra∣tionae formae. Ex ipsa verò Collectionis ardentis velut facie ac forma, affectionis species & res, in quam illa pervasura est, innotescet; duratio flammae de eventuum intensione aut remissione, habitudo ad solem de initio eorundem, quando primum invadent, decebit. Nam cum Matutinae fuerint, diuque flagrant, celeriores: Sin Vespertinae, tardiores eventus arguunt.