The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-12
TIE EXPECTED METRoRIC SHOWER
Letter from Professor LoomIs.

Letter from Professor LOomts.
We have received from Professor Elias LOOMS Of
Tale College, the following interesting statements
IN relation to the shower of meteOrs which is ex.
petted TO take place on the morni2g Of the I4tn
ABt,:-
ITO the Editor Of The Evenins Telegraph.-
On the morning Of November lS, 1888, shooting
Stars were seen in extraordinary numbers through.
VRt nearly the whoe of Norh America. IL was
estimated that the number visible at slnple alta ion
oenid net have been less than two hundred thou
sand. Ihe display began about midnight but was
ret very remarkable until between and 8 o'cloog
Thefe s no evidence that any remarkable display of
Of Asia.
ON The morning of November l3, 1850, unusnal
nunhers OF shoohng stars were seen Throughout
nInptee. no unusual display was noticed on the
same day In the United States.
'On the morning OF November u, 1899 meteors
appeared a. numerous as the stars, during q penod
Of 1Our hours. This display noticed throughout
tWas recorded November g. 1898; Also near the same
sAeasOO OF the year IN 1602 and at several preyons
dates extending back to the year 9O2.
These facts clearly indicate cycle of about one.
third OF century; and NJ Is probable that there will
be repetition of the shower either this year or the
neat IN some part of the world; but we cannot be
Unned States.
.flt will be observed that the day Of the year in
which the great display occurs changes TO the ex-
teRtQi threee days in century. Hence, we NAV
look for the greatest display this year on the morn
'iOn the morning of November I9 le6b four
observers ut New Haven saw four hundred and
Shirty shooting stars in less than two hours; whine
an the next morning less than half this number
,oe1ld be seen. Tins facI would lead us TO expeet
the greatest number OF meteOrs tins year alao on
Abe morning OF the 18th
S1t lie probable that the number of shooting stars
w II bo considerably greater thar the average on
tlbo mornings both OF toe 10 and l4th. The mum
htNs may be expected to be greatest after midnight
ap1 90 increase untd the cOmmeA cement OF the
no ming twilight.
''fhe following directions are given to guide OBJ
serveue:-
90 the horizon observations made from an opeI
,vndOW are of bu5 lit le value
Ie2 If u is desiPed to determine the whole mum
ner Of metears visible, at least touT observers arr
necessary; and whenever meteor seen it's mum
beF should be audibly announced, for the purpOs
0faFOiding duplicates
"a majority OF the November meteOrs move il
paths winch seem TO dtverPe nom point or regiol
in the constellation Leo near the bend OF the Sickle
IL is Important 70 determine accurately the dimen
ssone and positlon of this area FROM which tn
aeteoYs FAdiate; also the proportion OF the number
which do and those which do not conform TO IN
general law.
"a. As it tis probable that on this occasion theT
will be o largo number Of observers at many diner
ent places, it Wii be favorable opportunity l0f dt
termininR the height Of particular ncteors; IherS
fore, whenever m1teor appears 80 remarkaDlo =
10 attract particular attention, the position OF n
path among the stars Ahould be located, aud lhe ..
ObssyypfiOp, and tbs dnn,tion Of tpe Light ahOU