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Comet Sch was smann-Wachmann 1, 1925 II, was discovered photographically at Bergedorf on November 15, 1927. At the time of discovery the comet was of magnitude 13 to 14, and had a distinct nucleus and a nearly circular coma some 2' in diameter. Even during the first few weeks after discovery, variability in the brightness was noted. In an interval of five days at the end of November, G. Van Biesbroeck noted a decrease in brightness of nearly two magnitudes. By late February 1928 the comet had faded to magnitude 17 or fainter and could no longer be observed as it approached conjunction with the sun. On September 21, 1928, following conjunction, W. Baade reobserved P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 at Bergedorf and reported the magnitude as 16.5.

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Almost all that we know of the physical characteristics of comets has been learned from observing objects of moderately small perihelion distance. By far the greatest number of the objects represented in the catalogs of comets and comet orbits were discovered when they were relatively bright and therefore moderately close to the sun and to the earth. Details of structure in the head and tail can be studied only in the brighter comets. An

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