9 part 1

The Comet-1 Exercise 77

Solution 1

Indrani Debi disliked Duttada's "hobnobbing" with Dibya the telescope because it kept him away at nights. To Indrani Debi the telescope was like a designing woman who had ensnared her husband.

Solution 2

She is smiling because she knew how utterly oblivious her husband was of the practical problems of living. Although his doctor had told him to take special precautions against the cold he would never remember to put on a sweater even if it was lying on his bedside chair. His forgetful nature made her smile.

Solution 3

(i) Duttada's secret ambition was to be able to buy a good telescope and someday to discover a new comet.

(ii) When Duttada retired with ample money he bought himself a telescope. It was duly installed and long were the dark nights he spent in star gazing. Although his was only an eight inch telescope as compared to the gigantic telescopes of the professional astronomers he was optimistic because he knew that the professionals with their preassigned programmes would be looking at faint stars and nebulous galaxies and would miss an insignificant thing as a comet which they were not expecting.

Solution 4

The difference between a comet and a planet is that like planets, comets also orbit round the Sun but their orbits are highly eccentric.

Solution 5

Duttada was hopeful that he would discover a new comet soon because he knew that the professionals withtheir pre-assigned programmes would be looking at faint stars andnebulous galaxies. They might miss such an insignificant thing as a comet. He was also of the view that amateurs had often discovered new comets which the professionalshad missed.

Solution 6

Duttada says "I almost wish I had not discovered this Comet" because he was an introvert and the discovery of the comet brought him unwelcome publicity. There were numerous receptions and functions to attend.

Solution 7

His wife is unhappy about the discovery because she believes that comets bring ill-luck and she wished a good man like him was not associated with the discovery of one.

Chapter 9 - The Comet-1 Exercise 80

Solution 1

Sir John got hold of James' original manuscript because he met Taylor, his friend that day at lunch in the club where he showed him the paper. Taylor was the editor of Nature and James original manuscript was to be published in Nature.

Solution 2

The important point the paper makes is that Comet Dutta will collide with the Earth.

Solution 3

Sir John says that James' paper should not be published because it would cause panic in the world if that dreadful news leaked out.

Solution 4

The two men finally decided to publish the paper by toning it down and adding many 'ifs' and 'buts' to make the conclusion appear not so certain. Sir John would also exert all his influence with friends in other countries to make them exercise a similar restraint for a while.