The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-18
PERIOD or the RovsMssa MEieuas.
NEwBURG, Dec. 10, 1868.

NEwBURG, Dec 10, 1858.
To THE EDITOR OF THE IiERAID-
The majority OF the people have the idea that there
can only be one period to the November stream
OF meteors and that this period is certainly thirty
three years. This idea has perhaps originated from
the fact OF their temperance every thirty-tnree
years; but it does not follow because they reappear
in this time that their period must be thirtythree
wears, as we will soon show. Professor Newton has
shown that the following periods Will answer as
well as the period OF thIrty-three years, wiz
1905 days, 1854 days, 3Ji.62 days, 376.0j
days. He has also shown that the period OF
35i days has the most probability OF being the true
one. Let us explain how this period satisfies the
data OF the question II we suppose a body revoly-
ing in circle with period OF 354.62 days, 1t must
be little less distant from the than the earth
and its velocity in It's orbit must be little greater,
and this find agrees with observation; that is TO
say the velocity OF the meteors exceeds little the
velocity OF the earth In Its orbit II the meteors
reyolved in such an orbit In the same plane az the
ecptc we would have meteorc showers quite fire.
quently. But the paths OF the meteors are inclined
to the ecliptlc and can only encounter the earth at
the nodes. For example, suppose shower occurs
at the node IN 1865, then In 354 days (about)
the meteors return TO the node, but the
t ho V' "oe eleven ea'' da ,oS
behnd-and while the earth Is travelling eleven days
TO reach the node the neteors travel eleven Gays
passes and does not touch them. The meteors are
thus seen to be gaining about eleven days on the
earth at each return to the node. The question now
Is when will they be together again, or when will
the meleors gain 1856 daysS II will readily appear
that they gain eleven days in one revolution Of the
earth around the sun In thirty .three years they
| Will gain 1903 days. Hence IN thirty-three years
| and a little over after any large shower we
may look for another. SO we might use the
other periods we have mentioned, but the
period we have explained seems to sat
| isfy observations better than the rest. II the
| period OF thirty-;hree years Is admitted we
must change the orbit from . circle TO an elpse.
We have endeavored In this article TO bring to the
comprehension Of all your readers how easy and
simple 1t is to explain all the data OF the problem by
this short period 1t has been remarked that rs the
motion Of the meteors retr0grade, and as all the
planets and comets OF short periods are direct 1t Is
| not probable the meeors could revolye with re-
| trograde motion with so short period: but as the
moons OF Jupiter, Saturn and the earth's moon re-
volve In the same direction 1t would seem reasonable
/ 10 suppose all moons ought to revolve In the same
direction. But when one remembers that the moons
! Of Uranus revolve IN q different direction one Is
forced TO acknowledge that this Is one OF those cases.
Why 70 IL 90 we cannot say, but that II Is SO Is GER
tam. In tue case Of the meteors may IL not he an
| exceptional case, similar TO that OF the moons OF
| Uranusf CASSINI.