New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-16
THE METEORIC SHOWER.
WHAT ARE THE METEORs THEIR NUMBER
AND WHERE sEEN-THE PHENOMENA IN
ANCIENT AND MODERN TIMEs-THE SPLCIA-
Gle DFSCRIBED.

Ni''N
astronomers have resulted in the discovery OF the fact
that certain portions Of the immense spaces rayersed by
tbe eorh IN its yearly revolutions round the sum- abound
more than Others in those eonglomeraahs OF matter
which have received the name OF mete0fs through
such region earth passes each year about the 18th
~ November and consequently, about that time astron
oner and all other persons interested in the movements
NJ the heavenly bodies are the lookout for "meteouc
showers" The earth, surrounded by Its atmosphere
swiftly and silently vacant space at almost in
calculable speed and by the mere friction OF its atmOs
phere the metallic substances which compose the
meteors are heated 10 such high temperature
that they burst into flames, and produce those
brilliant and awful phenomena which have
so often struck terror into the hearts Of the ignorant and
supersttOus. On Saturday morning, from l o'clock
until dawn, those who fortunate TO be the
lookout rewarded with the sight of OF the
beautiful displays that Nature has it in her power TO
give. over 1900 metoOrs counted by Observ
crs OF all coors-crmson orange blue and green The
most beautiful experiments which the chemists per
form the phenomena which result from the introduce
ton Of certain cOmpOunds-such those of lime, soda
aud lthia into q very hot flame. The metals turned
into gases which reveal their presence by cOloTs
brilliant II possible. than those Of the rainbow. Each
chemical element has its distinctive color. These very
experiments Saturday morning performed
by Dame Nature the gTandest scale. for
the special instruction and amusement OF the
people Of the little planet which we call Earth.
The ancents entertained their opinions concerning
the origin OF metoors among which the most popular
TO have been that they generated by vapors
ascending from the earth Aristotle viewed them as
Of stone which had been raised Ivy empeSts from
the surface Of the EARTH while others held to the theory
that they emanatous from Old Sol himself In the
middle ages the astronomers with selfsuncCncy which
appeared 20 denote thorough acquaintance with
meeoric phenomena accounted FOR them COR rather did
nat account Tor them 10y theories Of condensation,
ultimate rcpulion. and on, and asserted moreover
that mctcors were in no way be regarded among
astronomical phenomena They based their opinions ON
the crrac course OF mctcouc bodies and seemed TO feel
that from sense of pIoprey. If for no other reason
these shoryed uudigncd. and extremity erIatc inter-
Topper, should Doe denied compamousdp with well behaved
planets, Modern astronomers. with the benefit OF tie
experience of their predecessors n the walks of science
discovered the nights which mcteOrs appear and
disappear: the rate 40 which they move through
tEo heavens their size and weight, and even
The materials Of which they are composed.
From observations made by Brandos HE'S, Schmidt, Oh
beers and Others. Professor Newton and Mr.. Alexander
cr,chcl calculated that mctcors appear on an average
miles from the earth and disappear after descending
2omles. These results were corroborated by disun
cushcd italian astronomer padre Sccch Of Eomo whose
calculations differ but little from those OF Newton and
Hcrschcl The velocity Of mctcoIs average about -
miles ucr second. At this rate % body would pass from
Tie earth 10 the moon n about hours across the
American continent in less than two minutes Probably
the craudest display record n the shape OF mCteorc
shower occurred the morning OF the 18th Of Noveu-
[ her 1893. This was witnessed throughout tho United
states and IN portions Of Mexico and the West India Is
luds In addition 20 the smaller mcteor which fen like
| snow fakes immense fire balls dartcd through the
heavens leaving IN their course phoshorcscent trains
which remained in view for many minutes, and IN one
case for than half an hour IN North Carolina we
are told one was observed whose brilhancy appeared
/ greater than that Of the moon, while II was
/ lac
In 1851 andC on the day of the month there were
also neeorc displays but OF the variety and bran'
CIV which characterized that Off Inls aud 1910 there
was another recurrence OF the phenomenon but from the
latter year uut 1861 tho November shower although II
must have occurred not ola very magnificent detcrp
f0u In s1 however, dame Nature, as though anxious
to compensate her rCmness boo providing Tor the de-
location Of mankind. prepared very respectable metco-
rio shower which witnessed I'm nearly all portions OF
the country AZ the Greenwich Observatory between
and A. NJ over 900 meteors, mostly Of grcensh hue
ore soon In 1850 America not favored with very
grand display the astronomers OF England fairly rev
eicd in mysteries, and Kept the columns OF the papers
filled with their lucuhrat0n the subject Tor weeks
and weeks But November is not the only month IN which
neeoric showers On the evening OF July 20 1900
meteor which from its brlancy and peculiar color was
supDo,ed by the uuimtated 10 be display OF Roman
[ candles was seen in this city and other parts OF
the country and during the month Of August ih
every year. there is always meteoHc shower
1T
display OF November IL noticeable foct IN relation 70
the showers Of August and November, that the meeors
OF the former month invariably leave train OF yellow
while In those Of tie latter the train IS white, blue or
green The cunning priests Of the middle ages who Wero
possessed Of just enough scientific knowledge TO be aware
Of the periodical recurrence OF these meteoc dspayt
were wont 10 use their knowledge potent means OF
raising themselves and the Church n the opinion Of the
Ignorant pOpulace And IN these enlightened days.
vnen one would suppose that such tc e1pedents Tor
attracting attention should be discarded there are seets
OF sensational rel goniss who are using these meeo s
a rod whercwith 20 scourge their own members or 10
friehten the world in general one Of the papers yeser
dav contained an advertisement which ended with the
alarming announcement Metcor ferry accidents, &c
abound! Beware. save your soul whIe there h yet
/ time :"
TIE rHENo,iENt ts OBSERVED EY OUR AsTRoNONEE.
From ILL., OIL the evening OF the l3'h TO C15 on
the 4th 2sz0 counted IN this city, ana 500 from 100
10 2l2 few were visible last evening also early TINS
morning and probably during the day were fitting across
the sky On the Of the 18Th and morning Of the I4h
the SKY NJ times was only a little hay, the moon absent
Betreep II and J. the meteors moved generally from
n L. 70 g. W. and when the sgn Of Leo was three hours
above the horizon they moved mostly downward from
Gamma Leons The trains OF some OF them were 10 de-
grees in length Meteors OF crimson. green violet hue'
aud copper color abundant some were too light to
look at casting deep shadow seven bright ones were
seen nearly 90 the same moment Some bcntam the
horizon reflected strong light Thirty counted IN
one minute. They moved IN all directions ~ a. M The
wind was e W. and the train o one, at 4:i5 a. Me- was
visible for u minutes the pointers Of the Great
Dragon: the train did not follow this wind, but slowly
moved from South 10 North IN the direction passed over
by the rapid meteor.
THE DISPLAY ErsEwnLnE N AuEEIcA AND ErEorr
The metcoric phenomena Of Friday night were Wit
rescd in aereut paris Of the country ana every where
10 advantage from the condition Of the atmosphere,