New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-13
TIE METEOR SHOWER THIS WEEK.
UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE EXACT HOUR OF
| THE OCCURRENCE.

UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE ExACT HUN "
THE OCCURRENCE.
The astronomers are hopeful that the earth VII
this week pass through the same swarm OF metcors
that caused the famous displays OF 1888 and 1890.
But they find II difficult TO decide at what hour II
will On the two previous occasions that side
OF the globe which Europe and the United states
are situated was presented TO the fiery storm. But
a difference of a few hours would deprive this part
OF the show altogether and favor some other which
might not appreciate the opportunity at all
". F. Dennlng m English specialist in cometary
and meteoric observation, believes that the earth
Will pass through the thckest part OF the swarm
at .. m tomorrow. 18th meridian time. IL
this should prove to be a correct forecast Amer,-
will see little or nothing OF the display. Do
cause the con stellation OF Leo from which the
meteors radiate does not rise until about MD
night. Or. tombstone Stoney. another English au-
thori,y Of repute expects the collision at a. m.
Thursday November Is. This hour Is much more
favorable one for observation. However neither OF
these estimates is put forward with anything ike
confidence but Mr. Dennings computation prob
ably marks the earlier limit and DR. Stoney's the
later OF the period within which the display
may reasonably be expected.
Still another guess has been made by NUMBER
OF Americans who base their calculations not on
the possible disturbances that have affected the
path OF the meteoric swarm since its last appear
ance, but or the time when the advance guard OF
the shower swarm was seen last autumn. In this
city at Princeton and IN several other places
where a close watch kept the greatest abun-
dance was observed between the hours Of and
a m on November Is. A year is approximately $50
days and hours long. Hence, the exact place IN
its orbit where the earth encountered the most
meteors last year will be reached again at about
a. m. next Wednesday 18th meridian time
Here on TIE Atlantic Coast and over In Europe
daylight will prevail at that hour and II the meteor
in
will not sec H. on the Pacific Coast. however, II
would be only a. m. and fine view OF the snow
might be obtained there
But even this calculation is offered with reser-
vatons DR. Stoney thinks that the meteors are
not distributed symmetrically and uniformly
throughout the denser part OF the swarm. but that
the latter is broken up into several parallei
streams. II that suppositcn be correct, the par
ticular cluster through which the earth passed
between and 4 a. IN on November Is last year
may indicate with precision the real axis OF
the meteorlc procession. THIS my be encountered
earlier or later than o'clock Wednesday morning.
therefore. ,.,
Of several million miles the main part OF the cor,
lection is believed TO be not over one e na
thousand miles through And. as the eartn nies
along its orbit at the rate OF slNty-lVe Siousata
miles an hour IL would not take over an nour anu
q half 10 pass through the main swarm, even II ~
went through the very middle Hence the more
brilliant part OF the shower under the most Iasor-
able circumstances would be OF snort duration.
Yet large number Of stragglers from the main
army have been noticed in the past several hours
before ard after the period OF greatest abundance.
II Is possible therefore tn4t peope VINO miss 'ho
circus may enjoy some OF the side shows;
Owing 10 tie hour at which Leo rises. II Is nardiy
worth while 10 begin ones watch before midnignt
either Tuesday or Wednesday. Between that hour
well worth the trouble may be seen in the eastern
heavens