Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-13
CELESTIAL FYROTECHNICs.
The Expected Display Tonight.

The usual November meteoric shower is ex-
pected tonight, with the maximum display
about three or four O'Clock to- morrow morning
Should the weather be clear at that time a
number Of metcors may no doubt be seen. some
of them brilliant enough to cast a shadow. The
occurrence of these meteoric showers is ac-
counted Tor by the fact that about the 18th of
November OF every year the earth passes through
meteoric belt which crosses our orbit They
reyolve in an opposite direction to the earth
This meteoric belt being very thick AT one nor
non causes the brilliant display which occurs
once in every thirty airs at which time the
earth passes through the densest portion. Every
year about this season the earth touches the belt
ana the meteOrs are then seen as they como
within oUr atmosphere, and are ignited by fric-
ton encountered in their rapid passage Before
they come within our atmosphere they are not
visible: Inc revolutions OF the earth being to-
wards the east, and those of the meteoric belt
towards the west, the display will first be visible
in an easterly direction from us and continue
until daylight, by which time the center of the
coruscations will be about the zenith. Ii es-
timated at the Observatory that the meteors
visible about three O'Clock to- morrow norning
Will be about thirty an hour, though IL NAV be
made.
Astronomers classify meteors into three differ
ent kmds-the first, which fall to the EARTH are
called meteorites; the second are those that
travel some distance through our atmospbere
and then explode with loud report throwing
out innumerable fiery particles of matter none
VI which redch Vie grounu being consumed in
the atmosphere after explosion-these are called
bolides; the third. which are small Originally.
are consumed by ignition in travelling through
our atmosphere. No meteoric stones are found
after the November showers, as the meteors
seem to be all or nearly all consumed in their
passage, or else pass on without being attracted
to the earth. Nothing definite rs known a. TO
the composition of these last, but II Is sun.
posed they are of the same substance
as the meteoric stones which fall 10 the
eartn, containing iron, nickel. &C.. a.
ron pelng the principal component part The
mete0rs winch become visible at this seasov, 49,
suPpcseu, most OF them, 10 be between sixty and
them are often noticed as STATIONARY iuminoO W
points which brighten up and Are then e1s
ungutshed In an instant. These, il Is supposed
are uaveiling in q straight line towards the
eaith, and are consumed before they reach rs
Others shoef Aong the horizon travelling two o.
three thousand miles before they are cossr- a
The grand display which occurs at ir..rvaps ~
and in England II was rer~ hri,,i lscs'
That country being about &c hoHrs sa.t ar me
and the maximum disp.Ay Occurring hefvaen
and3 O'Clock g. m, =. was day lieht before m came
ABOVE our hor.<o and therefore was not yisiS
PIE. IN 1ss the maxium of the display occurred
ere 3ust before sunrise, at which time some
o,oV meteors per hour were counted, some of
,he m OF such brilllsncy that they cast q shadoW
For the past two years the weather has been
cloudy and therefore the display was not visible
The hrst VIII be visible here about ten or
eleven O'Clock tonight, should the weather he
ciear, a. which time few meteors only NAV be
counted IN the course of an hour, but the
shower increases as the night advances. -
AT the Naval Observatory, in this city A corps
OF observers, under Professor Eastman will he
on the lookout for these interesting visitors from
pace. -