The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-11
NOVEMBER SHOOTING STARS.

To-NIaHT's EXPECTED DISPLAY OF METEoRIo
sHowERs-ANNuAL cANNoNApE OF THE EARTH
by CosMXc PARTICLES
Tho precise time has arrived when the full and
brilliant November meteoric showors which annually
encounter the earth, may be expected. They consti
tute q separate and distinct phenomenon and are
entirely distinct from the luminous displays that give
life and motion in the calm realms OF night in tho
month Of August. The November meteors always
looked for with the greatest interest Up to years
ago many astronomers found considerable difficulty
failed altogether In forming estimate OF CIR
cumslances under which they became visible TO u.s.
1t observed that the lines of all
ths meteors, If traced back, conveyed in one
quarter OF the heavens, and this point accom-
panied tho shooting stars in their apparent motion
westward. instead of moving with the earth toward
tho east The source from whence the melcors came
thus shown be Independent of the earth's
tion and exterior to atmosphere. The existence
OF q radiant point from which they all appeared to
traveltM whatever pare OF the sky they became vis
Bile, fact which, although in reality It affords
solution OF the problem OF mcleoric origin yet pre-
sented dinculties to many observers II 10 well
immense extent, consisting OF particles of matter
voving In clouds around the sum- aud that when tho
earth IN It's orDita revolution passes through
them they dragged toward It's surface by force
OF nor attractive influence Contact with atmos-
causes the 10 globes
fire shooting stars dartng through The armament
THE EARTH AssAILEo WITH MISSILES.
TINS phenomenon has always occurred on either the
llth or 18th OF November ana observers may DO
warded to night or tomorrow night by OF tho
most WONDERFUL well as granacst Of natural exhI-
bitons As the eartn sweeps on her wide path she
encounters metcoric streams TO compare with this
As sne reaches certain parts OF the Uruit she ex-
posed year after year TO a species OF cannouade of
creator less intensity and the weight OF the metal
with wnicn she thus assaled Is tar heavier than
she has 10 encounter At any otner period. For u
continuous dCwnpour the November showers have
been unsurpassed. The stream that IS now approach
by the influence OF Jupiter ana Saturn, giant men,
bers or the planetary system, ana as all the metcors
travelling in given part OF the system must be
Ject to the same influence tho November stream may
be shifted through n space oil enormous extent. ii
the earth therefore. Reached at thus precise date a
biz had occurred the epoch OF the display be
encd or delay ed. may happen, that the globe
may pass through the richest stream Ia the time,
part Of our planet may be sheltered IRON tho
cluster some uncertainty naturally rests npon tho
dates and durations oil meteoric showers, but they
have rarely failed put in an appearance IN some
quarter OF the earth At this time The dis
play predicted IN August last observed Ulster
county III this State. The shower very fine A
meteor as large rs mans head, IL rs said, passed
over Saugeres between ten ana eleven O'Clock with
kissing sound similar TO that made by sKyrockct
streets Tor scvera seconds. In many parts oil Eng
land there also fine display In August. No
doubt tho observatories In all paris OF the world Will
be July occupied to- ight IN scanning the heavens,
Tor though shooting stars shortved tho relations
which they present TO other celestial bodies OF
very considerable importance, and may be tho means
OF throwing great ght many interesting sub
raef IN nQtr I'm tCalr eQe