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Sport 41: 2013
Kreutz Sungrazers Family Tree
Kreutz Sungrazers Family Tree
On September 16 someone saw the comet about 4º west of the sun, moving very quickly towards that luminary. Her Majesty’s Astronomer at the Cape agreed it was exceptionally bright. At perihelion it was only one light-second away. A photographer saw it, and took its photo without asking. In the future, Ralph Hotere saw it and painted it. Te Whiti saw it, and became the first person in New Zealand to use the telephone. It was called Orongomai. This comet was really Orongomai II, the original having hit Taranaki and flattened its top. Orongomai II ran for six months, a native Sword of Damocles for the Native Minister, pursuing him from Parihaka to Dunedin. Threatened yet? Shortly, the Colonial Secretary took an interest and produced an outbreak of his emblematic blue correspondence. We keep those letters with a skull, and a weapon used in a murder you’ve definitely heard of.