Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-27
SKIES WIT BE ILLUHiNArED.
Great Interest VIII Centre in tho Noveinbor
sIetooric Display. tsk
Baltimore American eg4e

Baltimore American.
Astronomers, professional and anna
teur, are anticipating a wcalth OF
interesting phenomena with the coming
of November. That month each year
is automatically important, not only
from the various periodic phenomena
which occur, but from the peculiarly
favorable atmospheric conditions,
which render observation at this
period of the year most satisfactory.
Tho coming November skies, how
ever, says the Rev. Francis Tondorf Of
Loyola College, are to be particularly
gracious in their contributions to the
astronomers lore, as result of the
conjunction of the 80 and 13-year
period maximum meteor showers, o
group OF shooting stars as they nre
most frequently called.
From the fact these groups have
their radiant points, respectively,in the
consultations of Leo and Andromeda,
they are known to the astronomical
world as Leonids and Andromedes.
Hundreds, thousands of these wander
ing waits of the sky will flash into
brilliancy from radiant points high In
the eastern heavens, and will sweep In
brief beauty horizonward to vanish,
seemingly gone out, but in fact to go
on, and on, in unseen brilliancy,
through their appointed orbits, until
again with the passing years they come
to beautify November skies.
Meteors, or shooting stars, are familiar
to everybody, for all have seen them,
like silver thread drawn out fine from
zenith to horizon. Despite the fact
4, 81, 81 &c Lnn
more common than the shooting
stars" however, scientists and astrono-
mers have comparatively but recently
begun study of their characteristics,
and are slowly becoming acquainted
with the secrets OF their strange doings.
To assure the Identification of the
meteor, its radiant point and frequency
of appearance must be determined.
Observation has fixed various of these
radiant points in the heavens, which
remain constant, In various oonstella-
tions, and as certain characteristics are
peculiar to meteors radiating from each,
the various families of meteorsjas 1t
were, have been christened after the
consultations from which they regu-
larly appear, yariously as the Lyriads,
the Pegasids, the Aurigids, the Orionids
to be seen during October, and the
Leonids and Andromedes of November,
as well as many others.
To determine the periods of these
iireflies, is a problem for astute astrono-
mical calculators Their efforts have
attributed to the Leonids period OF
33 ID years. These were last observed
in November, 1864, at their maximum
brilliancy, and are, therefore, anxiously
waited for as the feature Of astronomi
cal interest next month.
The Andromedes are 13-year period
meteors, and rival in brilliance and
beauty the Leonids. Observations for
the former will be made throughout
the country on the evenings Of Noreln
Der 18th, 14th and 18th, and for the
Andromedes, November 9th and 23tl.
Since these visitors last came in Wow
OF scientists glasses vast strides in
methods of observation have been
made. and photography of the move
Inents Of heavenly bodies has become Il
feature of the work. Not only will
hundreds OF these brilliant little bodies
be constantly under the eye of the OBJ
server during their stay, but hundreds
of cameras will record on sensitizetl
plates tho appearance and path of the
meteor. The result will DO. vast al.
dition to the array of those bodies
already known, and a fund of inforn,a-
ticn concerning them which will be Of
great seryicc in the solution Of problems
of the movements of heavenly bodies
yet unsolyed.
Both consultations will rise late, and
observation will not, in all probability,
begin until midnight, continuing fol
several hours, and for two Of three
nights. Not moment OF this time
will be wasted by hundreds Of observers
throughout this country. In addition
to the United States obserFatories, /.
most complete organization OF astrono.
mers in all parts OF the country will
act as observers for the ast. onomical
department of Harvard College. al
Cambridge and adjacent points a large
number of instructors and students
will engage in the task of noting the
radiant points of meteors AS they flash
into view, and in operating u score oil
more OF especially prepared cameras.
Last year in the Harvard observatory
records Of OF Of the Leonids were Sc
cured, despite the fact that Mt that
time tho earth did not chance to cross
the place OF intersection at the same
time as the main swarm of ineteors,
as it is to do this year.
In Baltimore these observations will
be made at Loyola College, and pro
parations are already being made foi
the work. Astronomical observation
and recording Of great excellence d is
constantly done at Loyola, and this
Baltimore college has for years been
regarded Us a valuable sub-station by
tho Harvard astronomers. st
The plans being made everywhere for
the proper reception of November aerial
visitors, and the interest among thou
sands but remotely interested in
astronomical matters who will watch
unawed their courses through the sky,
is in sharp contrast to the popular fear
and apprehension which greeted them
not a great many generations ago.
Tho shooting STAR or meteor, has
from time immemoriai, been popularly
regarded as an ill-omen. This, per
haps, is a heritage Of the present from
the classic past, for Julius Caesar is
credited with first having written Of
the phenomenon, expressing great fear
that i'll success was to attend his arms
when, as he looked slyward from his
tent, shooting star left a path OF
flame overhead.
The falling OF various aerolites Of
stony or metallic masses at various
times contri sd to the superstitious
awe with VS. G ..h.-pting stars were
observed, for the z. Nbilify Of a gen.
eral disbanding of heavenly bodies
and the dire result should old earth
become dumping ground for all these
cast off windows in the heavens, =
was apparent to all.
The great star showers of 1888 is still
remembered by many, when the old
woman Ia said tn have renaarkol s.u,t 7.