In these days the study of comets is prosecuted with energy. Over the
world observatories are situated, and whenever a comet is discovered,
tidings of the event are diffused among those likely to be interested.
Suppose that one is discovered in the southern hemisphere, the
astronomers then write to warn the northern observatories of the
event. But comets often move faster than her Majesty’s mails, so that
the telegraph has to be put into requisition. The kind of message is
one which shall show the position and the movements of the body. It
necessarily involves a good many figures and words, and consequently
it is desirable to abbreviate as much as possible for the sake of
economy. There is a further difficulty in using the telegraph, because
the messages are not of an intelligible description to those not
specially versed in astronomy. Skilful as the telegraph clerks are,
they can hardly be expected to be familiar with the technicalities of
astronomers. The clerk at the receiving end is handed a message which
he does not understand very clearly. The clerk at the other end does
not understand the message which is delivered to him, and between them
it has happened that they have transformed the message into something
which not only they do not understand, but which, unfortunately, nobody
else can understand either. These difficulties have been surmounted by
an agreement between astronomers, which is so simple and interesting
that I must mention it.
The kind of message that expresses the place of a comet will consist of
sentences something of this kind: “One hundred and twenty-three degrees
and forty-five minutes.” Surely it would be an advantage to be able to
replace all these words by a single word, particularly if by doing so
the risk of error would be diminished. This is what the astronomers’
telegraphic arrangement enables them to accomplish. There is a certain
excellent Dictionary known as Worcester’s. I am sure when Mr. Worcester
arranged this work, he had not the slightest anticipation of an odd
use to which it would occasionally be put. Every astronomer who is
co-operating in the comet scheme must have a copy of the book. To send
the message I have just referred to, he has to take up his Dictionary
and look out page 123. Then he will count down the column until he
comes to the forty-fifth word on that page, which he finds to be
“constituent,” and according to this plan the message, or at least this
part of it, is merely that one word, “constituent.” The astronomer who
receives this message and wishes to interpret it takes up his copy of
Worcester’s Dictionary and looks out for “constituent.” He sees that it
is on page 123, and that it is the forty-fifth word down on that page;
and therefore he knows that the interpretation of the message is to be
one hundred and twenty-three degrees and forty-five minutes.