The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-14
HEAVENS WATCH FIRES.
The Season or MeteOric ShOwers-.-The
Opinions OF Astronomers on the
Subjeet..PrOf. MansiiPs Views.

There are two seasons in the year when
tronomers to be more prevalent and dis
tinct than at other times of the year.
These meteoric disturbances are expected
to occur during the months OF August
and November. and especially at this par
ticular time of the year. That the earth
is now making its annual whirl through
the meteoric belt or district. Those who
CHANGED to be out last night and the night
before report several brilliant displays.
Astronomers say that the meteors com
posing the November shower seldom
reach the earth. being so small as to be
entirely consumed soon after passing
within the limits of our atm osphere. In
numerous instances, however, these boa.
les have come in contact with the earth,
a marked instance occurring two years
since in Illinois The fragments found
all coincide remarkably with each other
in conffguration, external appearance and
| composition. an evidence that their origin
is a common one The exterior surface
is invariably black or at least dark, while
internally they are srayish white. They
are generally angular. of prismatic
and pyramidical forms. the angles
being rounded by the flowing of the
plastic molten substance, They range
in specific gravity from 3. 30 to %. The
chemical analysis gives them almost in
variably the same substances in nearly
the same proportions. They contain sui
phur, magnesia. slick, magnesia, slick,
metallic iron and nickel, traces of
chrome and frequently bear stony SUBJ
stances within their cellular cavities. Me
tallic iron and nickel, and also chrome.
err having been found upon its surface.
The origin of the isolated ;erolites that
occasionally succeed in penetrating our
atmosphere and reaching the surface of
the earth, their connection with the light
er but more numerous meteors that may
be seen nightly, and which are expected
so numerously tonight and tomorrow
night, and the relation of both of these
phenomena to comets and other celes-
tial bodies form one of the interesting
astronomical problems of the day
Mansill's theory used to be-and he in
formed an ARGUS reporter this morning
that he had discovered no reason to
change it-that the descent of mcteoric
forces is the result OF the condensation of
gases. which have been the inhalation
of the decomposition of the various Gle
ments of the EARTH that they are the con
densed or CONCEALED substance, formed
by the ABSORPTION of the electricity by the
earth, like waters from the vapors. In
reference to the August and November
meteoric bella, Prof Mansil said ne was
not clear on the nature of the subject, but
his theory, formed from great many
years observation, was that upon all oc-
casions and clear nights, any person wish>
ing to test this theory or system, will
always find more shooting stars
or meteors flying, coinciding with
the number. or greater magnitude of the
planets. 1t is his opinion that if per>
son will take the pains to sit up on any
clear night at any season of the year.
more or less meteors will be distinguish.
able, especially when there are more
planetary coujunctions or planetary lines.
Prof. Mansill said however that there was
a probability of more meteoric disturban-
ces in the nights between the 18Th and
17lh of the present month than usual,
because of the conciding! with the ops
position of Neptune, which occurs on the
10th --tomorrow-th earth at that time
passing out of the meteoric orbit 1t is
safe to say therefore that an interesting
spectacle of meteors will be visible early
tom orrow morning, if the horizon is
clear.