Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-11-16

The following is the official report from
| Commodore Sands, Superintendent of the
Naval Observatory, in regard to the recent
| meteoric shower, received at the Navy De-
partment this afternoon:
| U. S. NAVAL OBSERVATORY,
| s--r,@~-,. WASHINGTON, Nov. IA
SIR-I have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing preliminary report of the meteoric
showers of this morning: During the even
| ing of the 18th inst. there were no greater
number of meteors to be seen than are US
ually observed on clear nights, until about
ii 2. NJ, when there seemed to be an in
crease in number and brilliancy, though
not sufficient to indicate the beginning of
shower.
At midnight the number had considera-
bly, increased, and the prevalence of trains
was generally noted. At thirty five min
utes past midnight the observing party.
consisting of Prof. Eastman and Messrs.
Harrison. Frisby and Hays, beganto count
meteors and to plot the tracks of the prin-
cipal ones that appeared in that portion OF
the heavens covered by the star chart coll
structeti at the observatory in 1857.
At 1:35 A. NJ, 300 meteors had been
counted. most of them quite brilliant, and
nearly all of them leaving green, blue or
red traces. Thus far the display had not
but most of them were in the northern and
southern heavens, and scarcely any in a
position to be placed in the star chart.
Many of the trains were visible several
minutes. One lasted 10 minutes. and traces
of one near B Ursa Minor were seen 80
minutes after the appearance of the meteor.
Alter 1:50 A. NJ, Prof. Eastman noted
the time of approach of the principal me-
teors, and succeeded in sketching the tracks
of about ninety. During one hour and
forty three minutes four hundred had been
counted, and afterwards the successive
hundreds were observed in the following
intervals. 1.-The intervals are here given by
Commodore Sands
Tue observations were continued until
after six A. NJ, at which time there had
been counted five thousand and seventy
eight.
At 2:2O A. M. Prot. Noues and son Joined
the party of observers and assisted in
counting meteors in the western heavens.
During the whole display there were many
meteors seen in the west, but from four
O'Clock to five the numbers were about
equal in the east and west. ....4--- -..,
The time of maximum frequency was
about five hours, when they fell at the rate
# about 500 per hour. The radiant point
was we'll defined during the latter end of
the shower, and found by estimation to be
about l49 degrees in right ascension and
y minutes, thirty seconds in dPclination.
The trains were unusually brilliant, pre-
senting the various green, orange, blue
andred, and remained visible for an unu-
sual time. Frequently as many as five
could be seen at once, presenting an ap-
pearance, when nearly dissipated, of light
cirrus clouds. tas - s7eaEIyo ia7i 5T 51A
Inc shower commenced several hours
before it was expected. As it was pre-
dictrd last year it would be seen in 1868 in
the Pacific ocean only, a number of star
charts were distributed, few days ago, TO
the various observateries and scientific
men of the country, and it is believed
many valuable observations have been
made OF which we soon shall learn.i eii
& Very respectfully, 51si1' aHt HHo
Your obedient servant,
ISignedl B. F. SANDS,
Commodore and Superintendent.
= - - ~ Wedding ~ '-Ss-s--s--sA
The wedding of Speaker Colfax and
Miss Wade takes place at Andover.
Ohio, on Wednesday next.
Seeking Employment.
Manv persons have arrived here from va
riODs States Sapkipp GovernmPnt empl0y-