Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-11-24
From the New Haven Herald:

! ANNUAL METEORIC SHOwER.-Facts nj
ready asccrtained leave no doubt Of the re-.
+ c,Irrrncc of the "Mcteoric Shower" ON the
morning of the 18th of N.vember The
preceding day had been rainy, and early the
same night the sky was overcast; but before
midnight, the armament became cloudless.
and the stars shOnc with unwonted brillian-
cy.
About half past three O'clock, observing
that the neicOrs began to appear in unusual
numbers, directed my attention towards the
eastern part Of the heavens. whence they
mostly proceeded, and closely watched the
stars from the Great Bear on the north to
CAMS Major on the south. embracing in my
field OF view about one third Of the frna-
ment.
IL was soon discovered that nearly all the
meteors shot in directions which, on being
traced back, met in one and the same point
near the Lions Eye. For a quarter of ain
hour, from half past three o'clock, counted
twenty-five meteorS, of which all but three
enanatcd from the ubove radiant point in
Leo. Ten left luminous trains; twelve were
without trains; and the three that did not
conform to the general direction, moved per-
ceptibly slower than the others. The great
est part shot off to the right and left of the
radiant. n majority tending south towards the
heart Of Hydra. The next fifteen minutes
afforded but seven meteors, and the number
gradually declined ussil daylight.
The exact position of the radiant was near
n small star, forming the apex of triangle
with The two bright stars in face of Leo
It's right ascension was l45 dog. and dcclin-
alton % deg Its place was therefore very
nearly the same as in 1884, differing only
halfa degree in right ascension and all the
phenomena very much resemble those Oh
served that year, except that they continued
tor shorter period.
Although shooting stars occur at various
seasons Of the year, these meteoric showers,
whether they occur on larger or a smaller
scale, are marked by several striking pecu-
liarties:-tl) The meteors are much more
frequent than usual, and are sometimes ex.
ceedingly numerous. (2) A larger proper
tion than common leave luminous trains
(3) They mostly seem to rndfate from a COM
mon centre, and for several years past the
radiant has been nearly in the same part of
the heavens, namely on the constellation
Leo. II II afso exceedingly remarkable THAT
the shower is not only repeated OH the same
day Of the year, but arrives ut its maximum
every, and at every recurrence, at nearly the
same hour Of the morning-fron, to A o.
clock.
BY letter obligingly communicated to the
writer Of this article from Samuel Dunster,
Esq. agent of the Franklin Iron Works at
SpIingvale, Maine, it appears that the display
was considerably more splendid at that place
than here. TIE whole number of meteors
counted from 3 o'clock to fifteen minutes
past 6, was t,co hundred and .Gfly-three. An
amrorR arch which appeused IL the north be-
tween the hours of 1 and j, followed by au-
roral streamers. enhanced the interest Of the
Inetcoric exhibition. As was observed here,
the meteors emanated from common ra
diunt situated in the constellation Leo.
This notice has been delayed in the hope
of being able to add some particulars respect
ing the succeeding nights; but these have
proved unfavorable for observation, with the
of the night Of the 18th, when the
heavens were attentivcly observed from hall
last to half past o clock. Only six mete-
Drs were noticed, Of which two only left
trains. These proceeded from n common
point near the western hinder paw Of the
Great Bear, u position at least fifteen de-
grrcs north Of the radiant observed ON the
18Th. y.
Yale College, November I6.