Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Astronomy, Observation

    Written by Punch's 'astronomer', the article describes the author's attempt to improve upon the efforts of James South, who told The Times that he had only 'seen the comet for a fraction of a second, but could make no observation of it'. With an eye-glass in hand, the author gets drunk on wine and the 'dazzled' state of his vision induces him to conclude that he had seen the comet and can thus support South's claims.