Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-08-27
SHOOTING.STARS.


world who have not, during their lifetime,
witnessed the common phenomenon of a
shooting-star. On every bright night
numerous bright points of light may be
seen to dart quickly across the sky, as
though the stars themselves were really
shooting from their positions in our
armament. Many of them, if of large
size, often break into fragments before
they disappear from view, and leave faint
trains along a portion of their paths for
several seconds, while others are so very
small that the observer can hardly per.
ceive them. By single person from
seven to ten of these bodies are observed
per hour on an average. But more appear
sometimes than at others, and in certain
seasons OF the year they are so numerous,
and follow each other in such rapid sue
cession, that the occurrence of a " star
shower" is produced. Until near the close
of the last century poets dreamed and
other men guessed about these remarka-
BILE objects, but they knew nothing what
ever concerning their true origin. Finally
two young German astronomers ascer-
tained the fact, and informed the world
that those bright points of light which
traversed the sky on every clear evening
were the upper parts of our atmosphere.
1t is now known that these luminous OBJ
jects are first seen when not less than forty
or more than ninety miles from the earth.
We also know that any shooting
star WAC n hsls- % ss4IrIil GiIu ssa.l,AIpn
size, perhaps not larger than a pebble or
grain of coarse sand, even, undoubtedly
solid which has been travelling around
the sun in its own independent orbit, like
any planet or comet" When one of these
hodies comes within 1000 miles of the
earth's center it will enter into our atmos-
phere, and its velocity is then so great
fifty or hundred times that of cannon
ball-that even in our rare upper atmos-
phere an intense light and heat is devel-
oped by the resistance, and the body is
scattered in powder or smoke. A shoot
ing star is never seen until it enters the
earth's atmosphere. The rapid velocity
which it had acquired in space is then
suddenly arrested and converted into heat
by friction, when it begins to glow with a
faint light, hardly percepGble, 1t is only
when these objects have reached our at
mosphere and are heated to a state of in
candescence, or "red-hot" that we can
perceive them. Previous to this they
were dark and invisible, but after moving
rapidly through the earths atmosphere
they are ignited and, in most cases, entire
ly consumed. Many of them are so large
that they fall to the ground before heat
| can turn their substance into vapOr, and
are then called aerolites. Several of these
have been found and seen to fall on va
rious portions of the earth, and in Yal,
College there is massive piece of me
teoric stone which weighs 1000 pounds.
1t was ascertained by astronomers Ions
since that about five times each year shoot
ing-stars could be seen in such unusua
numbers and followed each other so rapid
ly as to fall almost like hail from the sky
The dates of these different periods were
also determined, and among the mos
conspicuous is that known as the "Augus
epoch" first distinctly announced 10y
Prof. Thomas Foster, of London, in th'
year 1927 which occurs annually on o.
about the 10th of this month. AT thi
time remarkable display of shooting
stars is generally percepdble, and tn,
number then seen is five times the aver
age of the year. Another importan
shower occurs between the 10th and 14tl
of November, but this one is periodical
and appears most conspicuous every thirty
three years. If one observes the heaven
carefully during these two periods larg
numbers Of shooting stars can be pei
ceived, and
Star after star glide headlong down tn
skies,
And, where they shot, long trails of linger
ing light
Sweep far behind and gild the shades c
night.
There are several instances on record {
shooting-stars falling in showers" whe
every star in the armament seems lOosene
from its sphere and moving in lawles
flight from one end of the heavens TO IN
others. The earliest phenomenon of thi
kind occurred in November of the yea
472, when the sky appeared to be on fiji
with the cOrruscations of the flying met
ors" But the most sublime phenomena
of shooting-stars on record was witnesse
throughout the United States on the NOR
ing of Nov. 13, 1888. Prof. Olmsted give
the following graphic and eloquent dl
scription OF this remarkable occurrence
The first appearance was that of fir
, works of the most imposing grandeu
covering the entire vault of heaven wit
myriads of fire balls resembling SIX,
rockets. Their corruscatiOns were brigh
, cleaning and incessant, and they fe
: thick as the flakes in the early SHOWS
December To the splendors of this cele
, tial exhibition the most brilliant SIX.
! rockets and fireworks of art bear less r
lation than the twinkling of the mo
tiny star to the broad glare of Il
: sun" This remarkable shower
! meteors produced feelings Of terror
the minds of all persons who witness
{ the phenomenon, and il was believed
q many that the day of judgment had com
! A gentleman in South Carolina thus d
\ scribes the effect which this shower pr
4 duced upon his ignorant slaves . W
: suddenly awakened by the most distres
ing cries that ever fell on my ears. Shriel
ofhorror and cries for mercy | could he
= from most of the negroes OF three plant
e tions, amounting in all 10 about six
d eight hundred. While earnestly listenil
/, for the cause heard faint voice near d
d door calling my name, arose and, ia
ing my sword, stood at the door. AT Il