The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-10-25
THE EXPECTED METEORIC SHOWER IN M
VENBER.
be Showers in 1899 and l89


Prof. Ferguson, of the national observa- |
tory in Washington, is making arrange
ments to take scientific observations on the |
expected meteoric display in November !
next. The subject of meteors and shoot +,
ing stars has engaged the attention of em-
nent astronomers within the last century
to greater extent than ever before; among
them Profs Olmstead, Twining and New
ton have written valuable papers in con-
nectIon with it.
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 9th
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 recur-
renee OF the meteoric showers in 1888, and
up to the present day they have been en-.
deavorlng to refer the different phases and
characteristics OF the phenomenon to known
laws, and to establish the exact anniversary
of It's a Q rlnce.
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 tor the remarkable size and spIeudor
of many of them.-Among the myriads of
| blazing meteors visible on that occasion,
one was seen at several places on this con-
tine0t. 1t was recognized by
several observers by t5 extraordinary
size aud brilliancy as we'll as by the length
| Of time its train remained visible, which
| was about ten minutes The luminous
train secured to follow the meteor III SER
pentlne course, and finally disappeared in
d vast uebuIous cloud, many times larger
than the moon and which continued to
move onward with a velocity greater than
the clouds
The meteoric displays of 1899 and 1888
we're characterized by the fall of meteorites,
which, rushing toward the surface of the
Garth with a loud noise. penetrated beneath
it several feet. The periodicity of these star
ny showers is not so definitely ascertained
with regard to the day as to the year They
have occurred III a greater or less degree III
the month of August aud November 1888
to 1889; but the most 5emarkabIe of then
have appeared on the 18th of November
or between that date and the 18th.
The next appearance of the Meteoric phe
o'iStNi'hN; 10 ON pCNICO OU vi
the 18th of next month The observations
OF astronomers have demonstrated that the
shooting stars are more numerous between
midnight and sunrise and the majority O
them agree III fixing the radiant point
that point in which the lines described by
the meteors in their flight centre-in tht
constellation Leo, limiting the area of IA
diatlon to the Immediate vicinity of Regu
us i'll the neck of the lion. Others assign
the radiant point to the constellation Orion
The theory most generally accepted il
accounting for the regular recurrence of me
teoric showers, is that an unusual aggrega
f ton OF these asteroids exists in the plane
; which is reached by the earth at that point
of its orbit and through which the earth il
several hours i'll passing, although observa
! tons have not been sufficiently numerous tc
establish the exact period Of the earth's
I arrival at this part of its orbit. During the
flight of the meteors in November 1888
f much apprehension was manifested from
the fear thBt Que or more of these asteroids
), would come into collision with the earth
but hitherto no disastrous consequences
have ensued from this grand celestial dis
, play, and although there is some reason t
believe that an event of that kind is posi-
bic, scientific men unite in the opinion thai
such calamity is not within the bounds O
probability.