Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-10-25
The Expected Meteoric Shower in Novem-

From the National Intelligenccr.

FROM tie National lntelllSenCCr.
Professor Ferguson. of the National OBJ
servatory in this city is making arrange
ments to take scientific observations OF the
expected meteoric display in November
next.
The appearance of shooting stars is quite
common, but in the months of August and
November of each year they are seen in
greater numbers generally about the 10th
of August and 18th of November The
great meteoric shower of 1899 seems to
have drawn the attention of astronomers
more particularly to this subject, and from
that time to the recurrence of the meteoric
show ers in 1888, and up to the present day,
they have been endeavoring to refer the
different phases and characteristics of the
phenomenon to known laws, and to estab-
lish the exact anniversary of its appear
ance.
Thus far the more brilliant of these me
teoric showers have occurred at intervals OF
thirty-three years that of 1888 was espe-
cially distinguished by the immense num-
Der of moving meteors to be seen at once,
and for the remarkable size and splendor
of many of them. Among the myriads of
blazing meteors visible on that occasion,
one was seen at several places on this con-
tinent It was recognized by several OBJ
cy, as well as by the length of time its train
remained visible, which was about ten min
utes The luminous train seemed to follow
the meteor in serpentine course, and final
ly disappeared IN vast nebulOus cloud,
many times larger than the moon, and which
continued to move onward with velocity
greater than the clouds.
The meteoric displays of 1899 and 1888
were characterized by the fall of meteori-
tes, which, rushing towards the surface of
the earth with loud noise, penetrated be-
meath it several feet. The periodicity of
these starry showers is not so definitely as
certained with regard to the day as the
year. They have occurred to greater or
less degree in the months of August and
November, from 1888 to 1889 but the
most remarkable of them have appeared on
the 10Th of November, or between that day
and the 14th.
The next appearance of the metcoric phe-
nomenon, therefore, is expected on or about
the 10Th of next month. The observations
of astronomers have demonstrated that the
shooting stars are more numerous between
midnight and sunrise, and the majority of
them agree in fixing the radient point
that point in which the lines described by
the meteors in their fight centre-in the
constellation Leo, limiting the area of "a
diation to the immediate vicinity of Regu-
| lus, in the neck of the lion. Others assign
the radiant point to the constellation Orion
The theory most generally accepted in
accounting for the regular occurrence of
meteoric showers is that an unusual aggre-
CATION of these asteroids exists In the plane
which is reached by the earth at that point
of it's orbit, and through which the earth is
several hours in passing, although obserya-
tons have not been sufficiently numerous
to establish the exact period of the ea-th's
arrival at this part of its orbit. During the
flight of meteors in November 1888, much
apprehension was manifested from the fear
that one or more ofttese asteroids ro'dd rome
into collision ,CiHt lie etOtL, bit hit7se,f" ~,
disastrous consequences hure e,.Sue,l from 1l:
grand celestial display, and dhho,tgh there is
some reason to beliere that TN erent Of this kind
is possible, scientific men unite liz the opin-
ion that such calamity is not within the
bounds of probability.
Bets of two to one are. freely Offered. in
this city that the grand display will not
come off" We, however, Go not doubt
that the show will take place, and we can
not help rejecting what narrowing thing
it would be should one of the meteoric
bodies say about the size of South Carroll
ma, strike in its fight the State of Massa-
chusetts, impinging first on Bunker Hill 7