Comet tales from India: the Great September Comet of 1882 (C/1882 R1)

Abstract

This paper brings together India-centric accounts of the Great Comet that appeared in 1882. It grew to be the most magnificent one seen since the Great Comet of 1843, and was observed from throughout the Indian Subcontinent. The comet of 1882 has been variously designated as the Great September Comet, 1882 II, 1882b and C/1882 R1. We look into the observations of the comet made in India by persons of diverse backgrounds, namely, by Norman Pogson, Major G. Strahan, Dr Mahendralal Sircar, A.V. Narsinga Rao, James Burrell Smith and J. Philaire, from different locations. The Madras Observatory observations stand out with Norman Pogson noting the pre-perihelion dual nature of the nucleus before it was reported elsewhere.