The Portland daily press., 1866-11-13

AHE ExPEoTED METEoRIc SHowER.-Pro
lessor Loomis of Yale College sends to the New
fork Evening Post the following interesting
statements in relation to the shower Of mete.
ors which is expected to take place ON tbe
morning of the 14th instant: $40
To the Editor of the Eue1ino Past. ..5ltc5 To-
On the morning of November 1atb 1893
snoenng stars were seen in extraor,linary
numbers throughout nearly the whole of Nortb
America. 1t was estimated that the nrrnher
visible at single station could not have hes,,
less. tnan two hundred thsusand. The disnlav
began about midnight but was not verv re,,oerty
able until and o'clock There is no evidence
That any remarkable display was seen on the
same day either in Europe or Asia.
On the morning of the Nov 18th, 1899. nm,
sual numbers Of shooting stars were seen
forty-eight in five minutes No unusual d;S-
pay was noticed ON the same day in the Uni
On the morning of Nov. 18th, 1899. meteors
appeare9 as numerous as the stars, during a
period of four hours. This displav was nat;eeod
througnout Europe and America AnupusuaI
NUMBER OF meteors was recorded Nov 9th 17q8:
also near the same season of the wear. in 1e02
ana at several previous dates extending hack
to the year 902. DA'N
These facts clearly indicate a evcie NJ
century; and it is probable that there win he
a repetition of the shower either this wear or
she next, In some part of the world; but we
c%anho5 % De sure that the principal display will
take place in the United States.
1t will be observed that the dav of the vaar
on which the great display occurs changes to
the extent OF three days in a century Hence
we may look Tor the geteatest display this wear
on the morning of November 18th.
On the morning of November 18th. 18G5 fopr
observers at New Haven saw four hundred and
tmrty shooting stars in less than two hours:
while on the next morning less than half tbis
NUMBER could be seen. This fact would lead us
70 expect the greatest number of meteors this
year also on the morning of the 18th.
1t is probable that the number ~ sboot;no
stars VIII be considerably greater than the ay.
erago on the mornings both of the 18th and
lstn. Inc numbers may be- expected 60 be
greatest after midnight, and to increase until
the commencement Of the morning twilioht
The following directions are given to guide
obSeryers: S~
L: Observe In the open air. from a station
wmch commands good view Of the heavens
9uite DOWN to the horizon. Observations made
irom an open window are of but little value
z. If 1T is desired to determine the whole
number OF meteors visible, at least four OBJ
| servers are necessary; and whenever a meteor
IS seen its number should've audibly arinounc-
ed, ior the purpose of avoiding duplicates.
| .. a majority of the November meteors
move in paths which seem to tliyerge from a
point or region in the constellation Leo near
| tne Dend OF the Sickle. 1t is important to de-
termine accurately the dimensions and posi-
ton OF this area from which the meteors radi-
ate; also the proportion of the numbers which
do and those which do not conform to the gen.
| eral law.
T. AS 1t is probable that on this occasion
there VIII be large number of observers al
many dlnerent places, it will be a favorable
| opportunity for determining the height of mar.
ucular meteors. Therefore, whenever mete.
or appears SO remarkable as to attract particu.
lar attention, the position of its path amonc
the stars should be located, and the beginning
anu emu OF the path, the precise time of the
| observation, and the duration of the lisht
/ should be CAREFUL, estimated When the
length OF the path has been determined, the
last observation will give the velocity of Ahe
meteor, which is an element of the greatest i'm.
bodies. = '-'' z
! Yale College, November @.