The record-union., 1898-11-16
FALL OF lEOnlD METE0RS.
THOUGH MANY WERE SEEN
THE PAST FEW NIGHTS,
The Grandest Display is Expected
to Occur in November of
Next Year.

SAN JOSE, Nov. 10.-In speaking of
the meteors, Professor ]. E. Keeler OF
LICK Observatory writes as follows:
The interest of the public generally,
as Well as that of astronomers, is di-
rected at the present time to the No
vember meteors. since a great me-
teoric display is expected to occur in
the year 1899
If the heavens are watched on or
about the 18th of November of any
year certain meteors will be seen, which
dart with great rapidity across the sky
and leave shining train in their wake.
Their paths, if traced backward, inter-
sect in point situated in the Con-
stellation Leo, near the center Of the
group of stars known as the Sickle
For this reason these meteors are
known as the 'Leonids.' They really
strike the earth in parallel lines, and
their apparent radiation from a point
in space is a well-known effect of per-
spective.
1t has been ascertained that the
Leonds, before they enter our atmOs-
phere are very small bodies (perhaps
no larger than grains of shot, travel
ing in an orbit which extends far out
beyond that of the remote planet
Uranus The meteors are distributed
along the whole length of the orbit,
and complete the circuit in thirty-three
and one-fourth years. Every time the
earth passes through this track, which
occurs on or about November 18th,
some Leonid meteors are seen. The
small particles are not, however, uni
formly distributed along the track. At
one place there is a great bunch, which
is encountered by the earth every.
thirty-third year At such times there
is a remarkable meteroic display. The
meteoric showers of 1888 and 1866 are
the most brilliant on record.
Although the main shower is not
expected until 1899, particular atten-
ton is being paid to the Leonids at
present. If the great mass Of the me-
teoric particles are not closely
punched, the advance guard and the
stragglers may be expected to furnish
inferior displays in the years preceding
and following the great shower. In this
way it is possible to determine the gen
eral grouping of the particles in their
orbit.
AT the Lick Observatory the me-
teors were carefully observed through
the whole night of November 18th, and
with somewhat less attention on the
two preceding nights. Two observers
kept Photographic telescopes directed
to the radiant point. Four others noted
the times at which conspicuous me-
teors appeared, and plated their tracks
on star maps prepared for the purpose.
The result was that the Leonid meteors
were not specially abundant. On the
18th from II to o'clock about thirty
Leonids were counted. including some
that were remarkably bright and beau
tiful.
IF the main shower appears, as eX-
pected, in 1899 (or possibly 1900, that
fact, taken in connection with the OBJ
servations of this year. will show that
the advancing end of the great Leonid
group is sharply marked, and that
there are few scattering particles ahead
of it. JAMES E. KELLER.
LICK OBSERVATORY, Nov. 10
The Leonid meteors were much more
numerous on November 14th than on
the 18th inst. The frequency reached
fifty meteors per hour. Some very
bright and beautiful meteOrs were no.
ticpd j. f.. KELLER.