Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-10-30
From the National Intelligencer.
The Expected Meteoric Shower in Novem.

Professor Ferguson, of the National Observa-
tory in this city, is making arrangements to take
scientific observations on the expected meteoric
display in November next.
The appearance of shooting stars is quite COM
mon, but in the months Of August and Novem-
Der of each year they are seen in greater num-
bers, 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 me-
teoric showers in 1888, and up to the present
day, they have been endeavoring to refer the
different phases and characteristics of the phe-
nomenOn to known laws, and to establish the
exact anniversary OF Its appearance.
Thus far the more brilliant of these meteOric
showers have occurred at intervals of thirty
three years; that of 1888 was especially distin-
guished by the immense number ofmoving me-
teors 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
continent. 1t was recognized by several observ-
ers by it's extraordinary size and briancy, as
well as by the length of time its train remained
visible, which was about ten minutes. The lu-
minons train seemed to follow the meteor in a
serpentine course, and finally 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 meteorites, which,
rushing towards the surface of the earth with
loud noise, penetrated beneath it several feet
The perodicity OF these starry showers is not so
definitely ascertained with regard to the day as
the year. They have occurred to greater or
less degree in the months of August and No
vember from 1888 to 1889; but the most re-
markable of them have appeared on the 18th
OF November, or between that day and the
l4th
The next appearance of the meteoric phenom-
enon, therefore, is expected on or about the
18th of next month. The observations of as
tronomers have demonstrated that the shooting
stars are more numerous between midnight and
sunrise, and the majority of them agree in fix
ing the radiant point-that point in which the
lines described by the meteors in their flight
centre-in the constellation Leo, limiting the
area of radiation to the immediate vicinity of
Regulus, In the neck of the lion Others as
sign the radiant point to the constellation O.
rion. ea
The theory most generally accepted in ac-
counting for the regular occurrence of meteoric
showers Is that an unusual aggregation of these
asteroids exist In the plane which is reached by
the earth at that point of its orbit, and through
which the earth is several hours in passing, al
though observations have not been sufficiently
numerous to establish the exact period of the
earth arrival at this part of its orbit During
the flight of meteors in November, 1S33 much
apprehension was manifested from the fear that
one or more of these asteroids acould come into
collision acith the earth but hitherto no disas-
trous consequences haze ensued from his grand
celestial display, and although there IS some rea-
to beltere that an erent of ttis kind IS posi-
Jle, scientific men unite in the opinion that such
calamity is not within the bounds of probaa
bility.