The record-union., 1899-11-11
SHOWER OF METEORS.
SHOULD TAKE PLACE FROM
NOVEMBER 18TH TO 18TH.
Marvellous Display Described by
Professor Rees of
Columbia

If the predictions of astronomers
prove to be correct the heavens on the
evenings of the Nth and 10th OF NO
vember will present an inspiring ana
dazzling display of meteors. Astron-
omers are looking forward to the event
With great interest, and many prepara-
lions are being made in the obsefVa-
tories Of the world with a view to Sc
curing more complete knowledge oi
this periodical phenomena By means
OF careful telescope observations ana
elaborate Photographic records to De
made in various locations, it is hoped
that we man learn many new Things
about these strange celestial visitors
from the unknown realms OF space
into the atmosphere of the planet on
which we live. No such display as IS
expected in November has been seen
since 1866. In view of this amazing
natural phenomenon the following
article will prove particularly inter-
esting. 1t was prepared especially for
this paper by J. K. Rees, Professor OF
astronomy in Cornell University, New
York:
All persons who watch the heavens
and gaze in admiring wonder on the
glittering stars see frequently appar-
ent runaway stars, dashing among
their fixed fellows, leaving trails of
light behind, and then, usually. in
second or two disappearing completely
These stars seem to have been shot
out from &. previous fixed position by
some tremendous force which makes
ho otoh ,i,,ly Of he n
great cannon, and hence the name OF
shooting stars" is given.
The astronomer knows that these
shooting stars are not really stars.
Real stars are giant and distant suns
shining by their own light. They are
cold, dark bodies which become hot
and visible when they strike the air
surrounding the earth. The velocity OF
their motion is, on the average, about
twenty-five miles a second, and so
when they dash into the earth's atmos-
phere the friction of the air produces
q temperature of many thousand de-
grees. The result is that, as these
bodies are usually very small, they
are completely evaporated and dissi-
pated. Sometimes quite large bodies
are able to resist this tremendous fric-
tional heating and then the residues
reach the earth. Such bodies when
found are called meteorites (meteoric
stons), aerolites (air-stones) or unrano-
liths (heaven-stones).
= Some consist of nearly pure iron
with nickel, others are stony and SUI
others are mainly stony with grains
and globules Of iron. Comparatively
very few meteors have been seen to
fall. Their chemical and meteorological
character is such that they can be
identified as meteors, it is supposed,
without any one seeing them fall. The
number of shooting stars visible to
the naked eye is far greater than one
would imagine who only glances at the
can see, on an average about five an
hour. But such group of watchers
can observe, ordinarily. only those
stars which shoot within 200 or 800
miles of their observing station. If,
therefore, the whole earth We're COW
cred with observers enough to see all
the heavens, it has been calculated. by
the late Professor Newton of Yale Uni
versity that the number visible daily
would be between 15,000,000 and 20
100000. When to this number we add
those which are too faint to be seen by
the naked eye we reach a total which
may run up to 100,O0O,0O0. We are
therefore forced to the conclusion that
interplanetary spaces are quite rich in
such bodies. Investigations show that
these shooting stars are of a gregarious
temperament. Millions travel together
in the same swarm or group. They have
plenty of room; the separate bodies
frequently being miles apart.
The terrestrial inhabitant is hence
treated to a most awe-inspiring and
dazzling display when the earth en-
counters such a group.
+ Astronomers expect to see such an
encounter next November about the
18th or 10th. If their calculations be
correct, watchers all over the earth
may at the time named see splendid
display of the heavens fireworks
Clouded skies can cut out any view,
and as the moon will be very nearly
full on November 18th Gull moon &C.
ours on November 17th) her light will
certainly obscure the faint trails of
many shooting stars.
< The best time to observe is between
midnight and the unrise-twilight. We
are then on the advancing front of the
earth and will see those meteors we
catch up with or meet. During the
hours previous to midnight we see only
those shooting stars which overtake US
on the earth. Riding on the cowcatch-
er of a locomotive engine in the midst
of downpour of rain we are certain
to get wetter than If we sat on the
platform of the rear car. The illustra-
ton is only suggestive.
The STORY of the November meteors'
is most interesting and instructive. The
astronomers have been able to work
out the life history of these meteors
from the observations made. In 1873
S. Humboldt saw from the Andes
Mountains a grand star shower, and in
1888 there was another great meteoric
display. Many thousands fell In the
course of a few hours. Professor New
ton of New Haven investigated the
matter, looked up old records of star
showers, and showed that there had
been a great number of star showers
occurring about thirty-three years
apart and coming in the fall of the
year He prophesied that the next re-
turn would be seen November 1874,
1866 The shower came as was pre-
dicted.
described his view as follows:
1.-THE night was fine; the moon was
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