The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-10

The meteors, of whatever FORM all originated
from point little to the southeast of the
Zenl.h Although none of them started i'm
mediately from this point, their pathways when
produced all converged, without a single, excep-
ton, towards this common focus Its position
was near the star Stamina" in the copstella-
tlon Leo" the point towards which the earth
is directed infts annual revolution round the
sun. Around this radiant point no meteors
whatever were visible. Another peculiarity of
the shower was the fact that the radiant point
renamed perfectly stationary during its entire
continuance, accompanying the stars in their
apparent movement towards the west This
established the tact that the source of the
meteors was exterior 10 our atmosphere. Ac-
corolng 10 the calculations OF the late Professor
Olnstead, VINO was an attentive observer of the
shower, their source was AT an elevation from
the surface OF the earth OF not less than 223S
miles.
Although the spectacle presented by thus. the
2randest display of meteOIs on record was at
all the points where it was visible, one OF the
most imposing and awe-inspiring character, it
appeared 10 the best advantage in the nelghbor-
hood of Niagara Falls. The ascending mist of
the great cataract, and the laundering voice of
It's turbulent waters, impaired to the iery ASPECT
or the heavens an additional beauty, and in
spred the hearts of those who there witnessed
1t with the most unbounded awe. The scene, as
viewed from this point, Is vividly and truthflly
portrayed in the large cut which accompanies
TINS article. 1t is unnecessary to go into the
details of the various
Theories to Account for the Meteor,c
Displays
which have from time to time been advanced
and discarded by scientific men. 1t is now gene
rally admitted that all the phenomena OF this
class whether in the form of shooting stars or of
meteoric stones, are of the same general char
acter, and have common origin. What
that particular origin is has not vet
been settled to the satisfaction of ali
who have investigated the subject. But
1t is no longer believed, as was at one time
seriously maintained by Laplace, and others as
llustrious in the world of science, that the
meteors which have fallen upon the earth pro-
ceed irom our own vo.canoes, or from those of
Inc moon. T6er occasional appearance within
the limits OF our atmosphere. where they are
necessarily subjected to its power of resistance.
as well as to the attraction Of the earth is most
satisfactorily accounted for by the theory ad-
vanced by Professor Olmstead, to which Arago
has lent the weight Of his great name. Ii may
be briefly summed up as follows:-
independently of the visible planetary bodies
which crowd the Solar System, there are vast
numbers OF small and invisible bodies which
circle around the sun, either sngly or in nebu-
lous groups. The nebulous body from which
the meteors of 1888 emanated, makes a r.yolu-
lon around the sun In nearly six months; its
olbr beng elllptlcai, and but little inclined to
the plane OF the ecllptic. Its perihelion, or the
point in its orbit which is nearest to the sun.
Is just within the orbit OF Mercury; while its
apheiion, or point OF greatest distance from the
sun, Is very near the orbit of the earth.
The distance of the former from the sun Is
estimated at 24,OOO,O 600 of miles; that OF the
latter at 95.000000 The orbits OF the other 4,
wandering little planets of course vary from
this somewhat. But when the wandering body
happens to be at its aphelion Just at the time
that the earth has reached tue nelghbor1ng
point in its own orbit the smaller body is sub
jected TO the attraction OF the earth, and enters
its atmosphere.
accounted for A velocity through the air Of
three thousand feet per second is sufficient n
,aise a meteoric body to the temperature of IS00
legrees Fahrenheit, or To a vivid red heat. The
lverage velocity OF meteors being. nv caraf'i
,alculation, full thirty or forty times as great
heir temperature would OF course be Increased
0 a corresponding degree, were not portion of
dissipated in surrounding space. That
The Shower of Next Week
III take place, according to the programme
Id down by Professor Newton is necessarily
VOWED IN some doubt, which the passage OF
me alone can determine. Its occurrence is as
rlain, however, as anything so far removed
ON experiment and observation can be made
anticipation. II the meteors do blaze forth,
On observations will be noted as will enable
e savans to clear up many of the doubts
htch at present embarrass the whole subject
nd whether they do blaze forth or not, II can
no possible harm
10 BE on TIE wATcH FOR TEEN,