The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-10-30
EXPECTED METEORIC SHOWER IN
NOVEMBER
From the National IntelHpencer.

-
From the National Intellipencer
Professor Ferguson, of the National Observe
terry in this city, is making arrangements to take
scientific observations On the expected metcoric
display in November next.
The appearance Of shooting stars is quite
common, but in the months Of August and No
yember 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 atten-
ton of astronomers 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 endeavoring to
refer the different phases and characteristics of
the phenomenon 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 dstin-
gushed by the immense number of moving
meteors to be seen at once, and for the remark
able size aud splendor of many Of them. Among
the myriads of blazing metcors visible on that
occasion, one was seen at several places On this
continent 1t was recognized by several OBJ
servers by its extraordinary size and brlliancy,
as well as by the length of time Its train re-
NAMED visible which was about ten minutes
The luminous train seemed to follow the meteor
in serpentine course, and finally disappeared
in a 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 1883 were
characterized by the fall of meteorites, which,
rushing towards the surface of the earth with
loud noise, penetrated beneath 1T several teet
The periodcity 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 Novem-
Der, from 1888 to 1889; but the most remark
able of them have appeared on the Eth OF No
vember, or between that day and the l4th
Tie next appearance Of the meteoric pheno-
menon, therefore, is expected on or about the
18th of next month The observations Of as
troDomers have demonstrated that the shooting
stars are more numerous between midnight and
| sunrise, and the majority of them agree in fixing
the radiant point-tlat point in which the lines
described by the meteors 10 their flight centre
in the constellation Leo, limiting the area of
radiation to the immediate vicinity ct Reguius,
in the neck of the lion. Others assign the
radiant point to the constellation of Orion.
The theory most generally accepted in &C.
counting for the regular occurrence of meteorlc
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
earths arrival at this part of its orbit. During
the flight Of meteors 10 November, 1888, much
apprehension manifested from the fear that
| one more of these asteroids would come into
collision 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 calamity is not within the bounds of pro-
liability.
Bets of two to one are freely offered in this
city that the grand display will not ''come off. -
We, however, do not doubt that the show will
take place, and we cannot help rejecting what
narrowing thing it would be should one of the
meteorc bodies, say about the size of South
Carolina, strike in lite flight the State of Massa-
chusetts, impinging first on Bunker Hill