The record-union., 1898-11-17
BEAUTIFUL FREE SHOWS.
NOVEMBERS TWO GREAT ME-
TEOR SHOWERS.
One May Recur This Year-A
Sprinkle From the Other
Possible.

tial fireworks will be witnessed this
month by those who keep a sharp look
out. November is famous month for
meteor showers, although the exhlpltlon
is not as brilliant some years as others.
In fact, one of these fiery outbreaks
that which seems to proceed from the
constellation Of Leo-comes only once
In about thirty-three years. The other
has period of about thirteen years,
but this represents only the maximum
frequency of the meteors from Anoro-
media. A few are seen shooting from
that region of the skies almost every
year when the earth, in its sweep
through space, crosses the orbit Of that
particular swarm.
On November u, 1888, for several
nours there was a perfect rain OF me-
teors. Something like quarter OF a
million were observed at Boston. They
all started from about the same quar-
ter, and their paths radiated in all d.
Tections. Part Of them disappeared af-
ter a short flight, and a part of them
left longer trails of glory. The spec
tacle was one Of lifetime. This same
event was duplicated in 1866. And
recurrence of it is now hoped for in
1899 or 1900.
The exact period is believed to be
about thirty-three and quarter years.
Consequently there is much uncertainty
whether the chief shower will occur
next year or the year after. But the
displays of 1888 and 1865 were both
preceded by an advance guard twelve
months before the main demonstration.
Hence, all that may be reasonably ex-
pected this year on the anniversary Of
the Leonid display is a premonitory
sprinkle, not fully developed shower.
The dates on which observation is
most likely to be repaid with results
are November 18th, 18th and 18th. And
the best hours for such vigils are those
between midnight and dawn. Leo now
rises in the northeast at about IL
o'clock. Inasmuch as there is no moon
worth mentioning at present, any dis
play of meteors that does occur will
be more distinct this year than on some
other occasions.
The meteors whose radiant point is
in Andromeda-a little north of the
zenith in the early evening-gave their
best remembered exhibitions in 1872
and 1885. There were moments dur
ing the night of November 9th, both
OF those years, when more than one
hundred and fifty meteors were observ-
ed inside Of sixty seconds. Thus, it
will be perceived, there were several
shooting stars visible at the same in
Etant The show was not continuous
and uniform, but at times the skies
We're almost filed with long streaks Of
light
There is reason to think that the
time interval between the reappear-
ances of the Andromedes has been
shortened slightly. Early in the CEN
tury the swarm of matter to which they
belong crossed the earth's orbit on the
very last day of November. But the
showers of 1872 and 1885 occurred on
the 9th. And in 1892 Professor Young
saw quantity Of meteors that seemed
10 emerge from Andromeda on the
night of November Oath. 1t is barely
possible, therefore, that if there is
good display in the vicinity Of that
constellation this year it will be Wis
ible on the latter date rather than on
the former. 1t will pay to watch the
northern heavens Immediately after
dark every clear evening this month
from the 23d to the 2Sth.
Meteors are the wreckage of comets
The nucleus of comet is believed to
be merely a loose aggregation of cold.
stony matter moving in paths that
closely resemble ellipses in form. A
comet comes from a point well out in
6pace-often beyond our solar system
and approaches the sun as closely as
the nearer planets. Then it describes
a sharp curve, and whisks off into re-
moter regions again. 1t is only when
Ia %t1% l.
comes visible; and under the influence
of solar heat it develops a tail on such
occasions But as the component
masses of the swarm are of various
sizes, and are at unequal distances
from the sun, the influence OF that
pody attraction upon them is not uni
form, The tendency of things there
lore, is toward disintegration and sep
aration. And after MANY visits RI ttaa
central orb of the planetary system TO
which the earth belongs a comet be-
comes badly demoralized.
Other forces may possibly operste IN
break a comet up. Biela's comet. for
instance, made a number of circuits
about the sun as single obiect-not
solid mass like a satellite to be sure.
but sufficiently compact assortment
OF dust, pebbles and powders to ex
hibit but one nucleus About forty
years ago, however, something hap
pened to put it out in space. and it
was split in two. Then one-half failed
to appear, at least as a comet. The
other half has been seen so few times
SINCE that occasion that its existence
as a comet is now open to doubt
A marked increase in the quantity
of the Andromedes was discovered
simultaneously with the disappearance
of Biela's comet. The stream of mat
ter composing the late November show
er pursues path in space which cor
responds to the orbit of that comet.
The inference of the astronomers,
therefore, is that the Andromedes are
its mangled remains. Similarly, it has
been decided that the Leonids are rem
nants of one of Tempels comets.
As one of these professions becomes
more and more disorganized it grows
broader and less compact Stragglers
from the ranks fall behind or, by some
curious chance, find themselves in ad-
vance Of the main column Slowly
and steadily these tiny bodies are sep
arated until the wreckage reaches al
most all the way around the track.
This fact explains the appearance of a
few Andromedes almost every year.
The meteors Of the Leonid group have
not yet become so widely distributed.
The great majority are SO close TO each
"FOP Colds and