Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1866-11-08
The EXPECTED METEORIC SHOW
i .afrs.a Err IN NOVEMBER ~f.as..

atory IN this city is making arrangements |
to take scientific observations on the ex-
pected meteoric display in November
next. - s.. ..ea. 49, I
The appearance Of shooting stars is quite
common, but in the months OF August
and Novenb Der 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 astrono-
mers more particularly to this subject,
and from that time to the recurrence of
the meteoric shower IN 1888, and up, to
the present day, they have been endeav-
oring to refer the different phases and
characteristics Of the phenomenon to
known laws, and to establish the exact an
niversary Of its appearance. s
Tins far the more brilliant Of these me-
'teolic showers have occurred at intervals
of thirty-three years that Of 1888 was
ESPECIALLY distinguished by the immense
number of moving meteors to be seen at
once, ans 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 continent. 1t was recognized by
several observers by its extraordinary size
and brii]iancy, as we'll as by the length Of
time its train remained visible: which was
about ten minutes. The luminous train
seemed to follow the meteor in serpen>
tine course, and finally disappeared in. a
vast nebnlous cloud, many times larger
than the moon, and which continued to
move onward with velocity greater than
+he clouds @'t' 2" a'''4:5 :5eE E2fa#
The meteoric displays Of 1899 and 1888
were characterized by the fall Of meteor
ites, which, rushing towards the surface of
the earth with loud noise, penetrated be-
meath it several feet. The periodicitv 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, but the most remarkable
OF them have appeared on the Nth OF
November, or between that day and the
14th p ~ ,:r.E5,, . o.e'.< ssta . u
The next appearance of the neteoric
phenomenon, therefore is expected on or
about the 18th OF this, month. The Oh,
servations OF astronomers have demonstra-
ted that the shooting stars are more .enu-
merons between nidn;eht and sunrise,
and the majority Of them agree in fixing
the radiant point-that point in which the
hnes described by the meteors in their
flight centre-in the constellation Leo,
limiting the area of radiation to the. i'm
mediate vicinity Of Regqlus, in the neck
Of. the lipn.. Others assign the. radiant
point to the. consolation Orion. -,
The theory most generally accepted in
accounting Cor the regular occurrence OF
meteoric showers is that an unusual aggre-
grafton Of tt eses asteroids exists III the
plance which is reached by the earth at
that point Of ifs orbit, and through which
the Garth is several hours in passing, al :
though Observations have not been sutni-
GENTLY numerous TO establish tile exact
Period Of Tie earth 5 arrival at this part
Of IFS orbit. During the fight of 'ttnete~
o}rss5 in November, 1888, much eapprehen
sion was manifested from the fear that one
or more Of these asteroids would come III
collision with the earth but hitherto no
disastrous Consequences have esrued fron III
this grand celestial display, although there
is soirie reason to believe that an event Of
this kind is possible, Scientific men unite
in the opinion, that such, a, caamitysis not
within the bounds Of ,probabilit5 .-7-,4Nat.
A7slesf2ge7sceE'as as,a ea IaS0e tF ~Iaxis4sgj
-1jf ssa..4} .5<47------e- Il ~@oa1z $
+. 3,.GovERNMENrsI IAxsdoN 'ToRAoco.--Son,e e
idea OF ithe,tenormousI. revenue thessGov-
Iemlment derives from manntactnred,fto
bacco through the Internal Revenuesiaw
may be CLEANED from the taxes paid upon
IL a.+; a1rsL. kl,yaka a1+sfTM n T. .I