Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-11-19

party Of from twelve to eighteen observers,
under tn direction OF Professor Newton, count.
ed from the tower OF Alumni Hall, six hundred
and niuety.slx shooting stars In five hours
and twenty minutes At twelve s'olook they
came at the rate Of about eighty to the hour,
increasing to one hundred and eighty the last
hour before dawn average for the whole
tima, one hundred and thir y to the hour
Not more than one third were conformabls to
the radiant In Leo. Another party, observ-
ing at Sheffield Scientifo school, obtained re-
suits agreeing 10 the main with the above
CHIcAoo, Nov l3.-The meteoric shower at
Chicago, partially promised for 'a,t night, was
q sad dissppointm ,nt both to the curious and
to the astronomers, as the mete )rs we're scarce.
ly more numerous or brilliant than may be
seen on any clear night in the fall OF the year
From eleyen to one o'clock, about one hun
dred and fifty were counted by Professor Saf.
ford, OF the Chicago Observatory. They sp
peared to come mostly from the constsllatioa 4
L:o, in the east. an to move in nearly hori. +.
Eontal direction, though many fell obliquely
and perpendicularly, and the direction varied
as the constellation changed its position. One
very brilliant meteor, about l o'cleox, started
from near the constellation Oanssip0d, and,
describing Q parabolic curve, extended entirely
across the eastern heavens, finally sinking be-
low the horizon. The first part Of the night
was olohr anu o0oli anu very tkVoraoio tof IN
vestigstion, but shortly after one O'Clock
haze came up, and the heavens were soon
densely oversprcad, 20 that no further exhibi.
tion could be witnessed
BosroS, Nov. IA s0.-Largs numbers
OF meteors are appearing here, the people
turning out to see them; is supposed to be
precursor Of meteorc showers.
New YoRs, Nov. ia party "watching
the heavens" last night, from private oh
servatory, gives the following In relation to
the meteoric showers:
Eleven to Three clook.--At about eleven
o'clock last night the frst one Of the shooting
stars was noticed at point near this city,
where some pains were taken to Dee the num-
ber which came, Only two or three more were
visible till quarter before three this morning.
Then within a period of teI minutes three
bright shooting stars appeared at the south at
an altitude Of about forty-five degrees from
the horizon. The first went eastward, the
second westward, and the third southwark, or
directly towards the horizon. The bright line
Of tho path covered about fifteen degrees
Three to Four o'olook.-Two little meteors
appeared at three O'Clock in the southwest,
and both went southwark from tie position Of
the constellation Ursa Major. Immedistely
afterwards another shooting star appeared 10
degrees north Of the zenith. There were not
more than three or four Of the whole number
that were not south Of that point. The next
meteor appeared in the west, forty degrees be-
low the zenith, and the succeeding one In the
east. near the horizon; and there was very
little Que In the southwest, thirty degrees
above the horizon. There was an interval of
one or two minutes in their flight. The time
these meteors remained In sight averaged one
fourth to one half second. They were mostly
below or between the consultations the Greater
Dog and the Greater Bear. Three-fourths OF
them touched the southwestern Lsotion OF the
Milky May.
Four to Five o'clock.-About four O'Clock
the shooting stars appeared in greatest num-
bers. They went in all directions, but usually
southwest. The only flight approaching q
"shower," which was seen in the course oi
the night, was at four o'clock and ten minutes
Then three stars dsried downward in quick
| succession One was exceedingly brilliant,
| and left a trail which could be seen for some
| time after II disappeared. In the course OF ten
| minutes there were seven flights Then they
came at longer intervals, and for about twenty
| minutes not one shooting star was seen. Be
fore five O'Clock, there were eight or ten, how
| ever. One of them, which was very far dis
tant, seemed like long. thin line Of light, and
was visible for several seconds.
Five to Six o'clook.-From five to SIX o.
| clock there were more msteors than in any Of
the other periods. At about half past i've
O'Clock a large meteor, as bright aud flashing
as a rocket, passed from the constellation
| Orion towards the northwest Its train was
| as luminous as the brightest fame.
TRoY, N, T., Nov. IA, 2 A. NAT half past
| seven o'clock last evening meteor OF most
brilliant appearance, and about the size Of a
~ enty pound shot, came directly from the
constellation of Orion, and Travelled west
wardly until its disappearance. Its hight was
accompanied by corrusc tions that absolutely
| glittered along its entire length. At eleven
O'Clock another brilliant meteor of the frst
magnitude shot from the ball Of Orion, trav-
srsing about forty five degrees of the horizon,
accompanied with nebulous light, similar to
that which cometary bodies exhibit, It came
from the east, and took southerly direction,
leaving long trail,
During the evening, up to halt. past twelve
o'clock, seven Of these meteors, mostly from
the constellation Orion, passed in a southerly
| direction These were OF the frst magnitude,
and trsversed south with lsng trails. At a
quarter to one O'Clock a very large and brill
liant meteor, accompanied with phos sphores-
cent light appeared at the end of the Sickle,
and instantly passed north, marked with all
the colors OF the rainbow.