The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1868-11-19
Meteor;o Shower.


The following is the official report
from Commodore Sands, superiuten-
dent Of the Naval Observatory, in re.
gard to the recent meteoric shower,
received at the Navy Department in
Washington, Nov. Nth, p NJ:
U. s. Naval Observatory
Washington, d. c., Nov. Il.
Sir:-I have the honor TO submit
the following preliminary report Of
the meteoric shower of this morning
During the evening Of the 18th in
tant there were no greater number
to be seen than are usually observed
on clear nights until about eleven p
NJ, when there seemed to be an in.
crease in numbers and brilliancy,
through not sufficient to indicate the
beginning Of shower. AT midnight
the number had considerably increas-
cd, and the prevalence of trains was
generally noted.
At 35 minutes past midnight, the
observing party, consisting of Prof
Eastman, and Messrs. Harrison,
Frisby, aud Hays, began to eouot
meteors aud to plot the tracks Of the
principal ones that appeared in that
portion Of the heavens covered by
the star chart, constructed at the
Observatory in 1867 At one hour
80 minutes A. NJ 800 meteors had
been counted. most Of theo quite
brilliant. and nearly all of them hav-
ing green, Llue or red trains. Thus
far the display had not been eon6ued
to any portion Of the sky, but most
of them we're in the northern and
southern heavens, and scarcely any
In position TO be in the star chart ;
many Of the trains we're visible sew
eral minutes, one lasting 10 minutes,
and traces of ore near B. Ursa Mi
nor we're seen some thirty minutes
after the appearance of the meteor.
After one hour and fifty minutes
Prof. Eastman assisted, and noting
the time of the apparation of the
principal meteors succeeded in sketch.
ing the tracks of about nj uety. Du-
ring one hour and forty three min
utes four hundred had heen counted
and afterwards the successive hum
dreds we're observed in the following
intervals. The intervals are here
given by Commodore Sands. The
observations were continued until {
A. NJ, at VIII ch time there had beer
counted 5,076. At two hours and
twenty minutes A. NJ, Prof None'
aud son Joined the party Of observ
ers and assisted in counting meteor;
in the Western heavens. During the
whole display there were many mete.
ors seen in the west, but from -four
o clock TO Eve the numbers were eqau
in the east and,the west. The time o
thcmaximum frequency was about five
hours. when they fell at the rate ot
about $500 per hour. The radiant
point was quite we'll defined during
the latter end Of the shower aud was
found to be about 149 degrees in tn,
right ascension and twenty two min
utes anl thirty seconds in declina
ton. Trains we're unusually brill
liant presenting the colors, green, or
ange. blue and red, aud remaining
visible for an unusual length of time
Frequently as many as five could /,
seen at once presenting au appear
ance when nearly dissipated of ligh
cirrus clouds. The shower com
menced several hours before it wa
expected. 1t was also predicted las
year that it would he seen in 1868 i
the Pacific Ocean only. A numbe
ofstar charts wore distributed fe'
days ago to the various observatorie
and scientific men of the country an,
il is believed that many valuable OBJ
servations have been made, of whic
We shall soon learn.