Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-10-31
The Expected MeIeOrIc Shower
In NOVember--Interestin
Scientific SpecuIatfOns,

SOACLAlAhC
Professor Ferguson, of the National
Observatory in Washington, is making
arrangements to take scientific observa.
tions on the expected meteoric display in
November next. The subject of meteors
and shooting stars has engaged the atten.
ton of eminent astronomers within the
last century to a greater extent han ever
before; among them Professors Olmsted,
Twining and Newton have written valua.
bic papers in connection with it.
The appearance of shooting stars Is quite
common, but in the month of August and
November of each year are they seen in
greater numbers, generally abuot the 10Th
of August and the 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 showers 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
anniYersersary of its appearance.
Thus far the more brilliant of these me-
teoric showers have occurred at intervals
of ~thirty-three years; that of 1888 was es-
pecially distinguished by the immense
number of moving meteors to be seen at
once, and for the remarkable size and
splendor of many of them. Among the
many myriads of blazing meteors visible
on that occasion, n was seen at several
places on this continent. 1t was recog-
nized by several observers by its extraor-
binary size and brilliancy, as well as by
the length of time its train remained Wis
ible, which was about ten minutes. The
luminous train seemed to follow the me-
teor in a serpentine course, and finally
disappeared in a vast nebulous cloud,
many times larger than the moon, and
which continued to move on with a We
locity greater than the clouds.
The meteoric displays of 1899 and 1888
were characterized by the fall of meteor
ties, which, rushing toward the surface of
the earth with a loud noise, penetrated
beneath it several feet. The periodicity
of these starry showers is not SO definitely
~ascertaired with regard to the day as to
the year. They haye occurred to g great
er or less degree in the months of August
and November, from 1888 to 1889, but
the most remarkable of them have ap-
peared On the 18th of November, or be-
tween that date and the Nth.
The next appearance of the mcteoric
phenomenon, therefore, is expected on or
about the 18th of next month. The OBJ
servations of the astronomers have dem
onstrated that the shooting stars are more
numerous between midnight and sunrise,
snd the majority of them agree in fixing
the radiant point-that point in which
the lines described by the meteors in
their fight center-in the constellation
Leo. limiting the area of radiation to the
immediate vicinity of Regulus 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 recurrence of
meteorlc showers is, that an annual ag-
gregation of these asteroids exists in the
plane which is reached by the earth at
that point ofits orbit, and through which
the earth is several hours in passing, al
though observations nave not been suff-
GENTLY numerous to establish the exact
period OF the earth's arrival at this part
of its orbit. During the fight of meteors
In November; 1888, much apprehension
was manifested from fear that one or more
of these asteroids would come into coils
ion with the earth; but hitherto no disas-
trous consequences have ensued from this
grand celestial display, and although
there is some reason to believe that an
event of this kind is possible, scientific
men unite in the opinion that such u ca
lamity is not within the bounds of proba-
bility.