The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1889-03-23
COMETS AND METEORS.

COMIlO AMI MIL EUhS.
A Few Facts About These &C.
lestial Visitors.
Plausible Theory of Schlaparelli, the Milan
Astronomer, Respecting the Rela-
tionship Between Comets, Me-
teors and Nebulie.
There are few persons who have not
witnessed the striking phenomena OF
the so-called shooting stars They
are visible any clear night, and with
little patient observation several
may be seen during All evening. Flash
ing out in various quarters of the
heavens, they are seen to dart across
the sky, with motions more or less
rapid and with brilliancy more or less
marked, some down towards mother
earth, others across the starry arch,
leaving behind them a phosphorescent
glow generally visible only for a mo-
ment. Larger meteors (and the term
at this stage can only be used in ex-
pressing their size by their light)
often leave behind them a very marked
glow, much like a faint clou6, and
which when the meteor's flight is thus
marked, usually remains suspended in
the sky for some considerable time.
The writer saw such meteor on the
night Of August 8, 1888, which left in
its path a greenish glow, visible to the
naked eye fully twenty minutes. Such
occurrences are rare, however, and
few are witnessed in a lifetime. In
stances are on record of meteoric
showers visible in broad daylight, and
wcll-attested statements have been
made OF single meteors of great size
seen to fall in various parts of the
country between sunrise and sunset.
Meteoric showers have in numerous
instances been so marvellous that the
fall presented an appearance like that
of a light fall of Illuminated snow.
One of the earliest of recorded phe-
nomena of this character, and which
is we'll attested, was witnessed by Hum
boldt and Bonpland early on the morn
ing of November -, 1899, during their
visit to the east coast of Mexico.
Another well-attested statement is that
of Arago, the well-known astron omer,
who on the night of November II, 1888
(and here note that both occurred on
the same day of the same month, and
divided by a space of thirty Sour
years), witnessed such a marvellous
shower that he estimated that during
his observation of three hours 240, 1000
visible meteors passed over the
heavens. A rough estimate of the
number OF meteors, sufficiently bri ght
to be seen by tho naked eye
under favorable circumstances,
and those invisible owing to
daylight, and which enter the earth s
atmosphere during the space of twen-
ty-four hours, is about 100000.
Some we'll known scientists, taking
into consideration those which would
be revealed if the eye possessed the
light-grasping power of our larger
telescopes, increase that number to
about 400,0O0,000. We often hear OF
the falling of "great balls of fire.
with startling explosions following.
Scientists tell us that the so-called
balls of fire are really compact groups
of small meteors. When such a group
comes within the attraction of the
earth it is drawn rapidly toward hel
surface. The encounter with the At
mosphere separates them sna at the
same time CONSUMES them, producing
no little agitation of the air, and thus
causing the sound. This action O.
separation and burning would give {
result in some cases much like that O.
a rocket exploding in the air, with
which display all are familiar
Instances of mete ORIG bodies falling
to earth are comparatively rare. Tt
enable it to reach the earth the mas!
of matter composing a meteor must b.
of sufficient bulk to prevent complete
dissipation or consumption during it.
passage through the atmosphere to the
earth. However, showers of stones
are matters of history. On the Goth o
April, 1908, such a shower occurred a
L'Aigie, in Normandy. The number
of meteoric stones found within a spac,
Of fourteen square miles was over tw,
thousand. This fall was accompanied
by bright, light and loud explo
sions. The height,at which meteor
first appear visible is a much disputed
question. Estimates made by we'll
known observers give results varyins
from forty to ninety miles; the aver
age velocity accorded them being abou
twenty-six miles per second, or nearl,
half as fast again as the earth travels
around the sun. Some meteors, how
ever, have been observed to possess
velocity of over one hundred miles PEI
second, or three hundred and sixt,
thousand miles per hour! Perhap
the reader will ask: ''Why are thes'
bodies burned up?'' The answer i
this: Suppose two bodies moving il
space with such great velocit,
and in independent orbits encounter
what will be the result? A sudden
check of their motion converts tina