The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-01

certain path were at work as well
among the burstcd and flying PARTICLES.
They fell into line, the larger frag-
ments taking the head of the line and
the smaller particles falling in behind
for million miles and more, and the
unending journey, interrupted for a
while, was taken up again along the
old path.
The course of Tempel's comet and
OF its subsequent PARTICLES completely
encirclcs the orbit of the earth, touch
ing it only at one point on it's outer
edge. Continuing, it crosses the orbits
OF Jupiter and Saturn and extende 8
few millions of miles beyond tnat Of
Uranus. In shape the orbit of Tenn
pcl's comet is elliptical. It's length
is ;enty times that of the orbit of
the earth.
Zone of the most interesting ques-
tions that will be brought up for de-
termination during the coming visit
OF the November meteors is connected
with their first presence in the solar
system. There is we'll founded
theory to the effect that Tempel's
/ comet was originally drawn into the
solar system by the planet Uranus,
and this year the exact date of its
coming will probably he proven By
actual observation said Prof. Will
liam A. Harkness, who is in charge of
the onomical department Of the
naval observatory, in the course Of an
interview.
"We are unable to predict the exact
hour at which the November meteoric
showers will begin. But it is esti-
mated that the showers will reach
their maximum brilliancy ct o'clock
a. M, the morning of November Is.
Although these meteorids reyolye
around the sun in definite orbit, the
point of their intersection with the
orbit of the earth moves forward at
the rate of degree and half per
year, thus throwing the advent of the
meteors a few hours later at each sue
ceedipg fall. For example, the fall of
1888 occurred on the night Of Novem-
Der 13; the fall Of 1899 will take place
on the evening of the 18th of Novem-
ber, and will probably be Of some
hours duration. It will be visible
throughout the whole Of the North
American continent and in Europe
and Asia.
ORIGIN OF THEIR NAME.
"The November meteors receive the
nome Of Leonids from the fact that
thop seem to pour out from that part
of the heavens wherein is located the
constellation Of Leo. When this con-
stellation is at its zenith, it is almost
overhead at Washington. In weight
these meteors vary from few grains
to many pounds. They strike the
earth 8 atmosphere, and begin to burn
at the height of seventy-four miles,
md are generally entirely consumed
at height of fifty miles.
"The phenome on Of great meteoric
shower is generally perfectly noise
less one. When the streak is first
formed it is narrow and perfectly
straight, but i scon becomes scrpen.
tine and assumes an irregular figure
as it drifts along under the influence
Of the wind currents in the upper
region Of the atmosphere. The strcaks
are of various colors, owing partly to
substances and partly to their alti-
tude. Some are of delicate greenish
hue, while others light up the skies
with a ruddy glow. Streaks Of orange,
red, white and blush white commingle
to form most remarkable and beauti-
full spectacle. Occasionally an orange
colored meteor may be observed leaving
in its wake streak of green. A pc
culiarity Of the November meteors is
that the nucleus shoots ahead Of the
streak before vanishing. The indi-
vidual meteors vary greatly in size.
Some of the larger Of the meteors ap-
pear to be half the size of the moon.
Interspersed with the meteoroids is
an occasional fireball, which, in burst
ing, causes shadows to be cast upon
the ground, SO intense is the light
generated for the moment. There is
NO reason that in such instances as
this the sound Of bursting should not
reach the ears Of spectators. The
streaks left in the case Of fireballs Of
the first magnitude last in some cases
for several hours
HISTORY OF THE DISPLAYS.