Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-04-04
COMETS AND METEORS.
A Few Facts About These Ce.
lestial Visitors.
Plausible Theory of Schlaparelli, the Milar
Astronomer, Respecting the Rela-
tionship Between Comets, Me-
teors and Nebulm.

Ihere are lew persons who have not
witnessed the striking phenomena of
the so-called 'shooting-stars." They
are visible any clear night, and with
a little patient observation several
may be seen during an 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 clouc, and
which when the meteors flight is thus
marked, usually remains suspended in
the sky for some considerable time.
The writer saw such meteor on the
night Of August 9, 1883, which left in
its path greenish glow, visible to the
naked eye fully twenty minutes. Such
occurrences are rare, however, and
few are witnessed in lifetime. In
stances are on record of meteoric
showers visible in broad daylight, and
well-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 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 II, 1899, during their
visit to the east coast of Mexico.
Another well-attested statement is that
of Arago, the well-known astronomer,
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-four
years), witnessed such a marvellous
shower that he estimated that during
his observation OF three hours 2i0, coo
visible meteors passed over the
heavens. A rough estimate of the
number of meteors, sufficiently bright
TO be seen by the 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 1000, ,000.
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 40O,000,000. 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 group
comes within the attraction of the
earth it is drawn rapidly toward her
surface. The encounter with the at
mosphere separates them and at the
same time consumes them, producing
no little agitation of the air, and thus
causing the sound. This action OF
separation and burning would give a
result in some cases much like that Of
a rocket exploding in the air, with
which display all are familiar.
Instances of meteoric bodies falling
TO earth are comparatively rare. Tc
enable it to reach the earth the mass
of matter composing a meteor must be
of sufficient bulk to prevent complete
dissipation or consumption during its
massage through the atmosphere to the
earth. However, showers of stones
are matters of history. On the Goth ol
April, 1908, such shower occurred al
EAigie, in Normandy. The number
of meteoric stones found within a space
of fourteen square miles was over two
thousand. This fall was accompanied
bv s.bright. light and loud explo-
sious.- The height at which meteors
first appear visible is much-disputei
ouestion. Estimates made BY we'll
known observers give results varying