Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-11-06
URANoLoGY FoR NoVEEBER.

November is the month Of meteors. In
that month the Earth passes through the
orbit Of the most remarkable Of the meteor
belts known to us.For some reason the Earth
intersects this belt at the point where the
meteors are the most thickly clustered to-.
gether only once in 3S years, at which time
displays OF astounding magnitude may be
looked for. Many people are still living who
remember distinctly the wonderful meteoric
shower of November 18th, 1888, the effect OF
which upon the slaves was thus described by
Asouth Carolina planter:
II was suddenly awakened by the most dis
tessing cries that ever fell upon my ears
Shrleks OF horror and cries for mercy could
near from most of the negroes of three plan
tAuons, amounting in all to 600 or 800. While
earnestly listening for the cause | heard a
faint voice near the door calling nv name /.
arose and, taking my sword, stood at the
door. At this moment heard the same voice
still beseeching me to rise aud say.
Ing %, my God, the world is
on fire 1 then opened the door, and
it is difficult to say which excited me
most-the awfulness Of the scene or the dis
ressed cries of the negroes upward OF 100 Of
whom lay PROSTATE on the ground some
speechless and some with the bltterest cries,
but most with their hands raised imploripg
God TO save the world and them. The scene
was truly awful for never did rain fall much
thlcker than did the meteors fall towards the
earth east, west, north and south it was tbs
same"
In 1866 the earth again encountered the
same belt OF meteors, and the people Of
Europe were treated to a brilliant display, less
memorable, however, than that OF 1888. Re-
garding the displays which may be expected
during the coming month, Prof. Sharpless OF
the Hsverford College Observatory, writes :
"On the 18th and Goth instants we NAV
reasonably hope for a number of meteors
radiating from point near the line Of iunc-
ton OF the consultations Orion and Taurus
Since this part Of the heavens is only above
the horizon after midnight the watcher for
these meteors will be under the necessity Of
early rising. II he will make the exeftion
and keep q careful watch, he may expect 10
see meteor OF considerable brightness on
an average as often as once in two minlltes
Ihis shower has rewarded our watches at
Haverford with more abundant results than
this, but we have had several observers to
scan dlnerent parts OF the sky and recorded
everything seen. II each meteor is laid
down on map of the heavens the radiant
point will become evident by glance at the
map at the end Of the watch.
Another shower, the great "Noyember
shower" will be due about the l4th and
adjacent days OF next month. These will
shoot out from the direction Of Leo. and
must also be sought in the carly morning
hours. The watches mus be arranged so a.
TO avoid moonlight, which, fortunately this
year will be easy for both OF these showers.
Comet Wolf is still easily visible in the
EVERY EVENING telescope, a 81 inch Brashear
reflector, but is rapidly moving southwark
and, in itself, is hardly worth looking
up. 1t presents the appearance Of
small mass Of luminous haze, with
stellar nucleus. This comet ia
interesting, however, from the fact that it has
been Ascertained by the Harvard observers to
reyolve around the Sun in an clip
teal orbit of 2,429 days, placing it
within the group Of short period comets which
revolve entirely within our solar System.
The phases Of the Moon for November are
a follows: Full Moon, Sd, 1856 a. m; last
quarter, 9th, 6.12 p. m. new Moon, 18th, LII
p. m; first quarter, 25th, 5.15p. m.
Saturn is, as yet, the only one of the visible
planets to adorn the early evening sky. de
rises now about 8 p. M, and will rise before6
p. m. by the close OF the month. He ia
therefore favorably placed for observation
before midnight. Quite close to Saturn On
the southwark will be noticed a little s,sr.
which is zeta Tauri and marks the tip Of enc
Of the horns of the Bull. Saturn will be in
conjunction with the Moon, at distance Of
between 50 and A., on the evening of the 6h.
The brilliant Jupiter rises now at LILO a.
m; at the close Of the month he will rise at
l1.so p. m. He is in the constellation Leo md
not far from the bright star Regulus, which
be passed SO closely in the early part VI
October.