The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-14
ON WATCH FOR THE METEoRs.
THE SHOWER OF LEONIDs EXPECT
ED AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

Camera Clubs Corps of Observers In
Readiness for Their COming-The
Final Preparation for the Observa-
lions to BE Completed To-dny-The
Work of Great Astronomical In
terest-Mr. Otis AshmOre Explains
Where, When and How the Me-
teors May he seen-Astronomer
PIckering's Bulletin.
The November meteoric showers are due
tonight or, rather, tomorrow morning.
AS the Leonids, except a stray few which
may shoot up from the eastern horizon,
cannot be seen until after midnight, there
is little use to watch for them before that
hour
The Savannah Camera Clubs corps of
twelve observers, under direction of Mr.
Otis Ashmore, have everything In readi-
ness for the observations. The instru-
ments will be put in position and adjusted
to-day. Prof Edward c. Pickering of
Harvard College Observatory, for which
the observations will be made in Savan-
nah, issued the following bulletin Sun
day:
The time of appearance of the Novem-
Der meteors is somewhat uncertain. In
1893 they appeared in the night between
Nov. II and Nov 70; in 1898, on Nov. 1918,
ana IN 1866 on Nov. 1874. This year. there
tore, we might expect them early in the
morning of Wednesday, Nov. 15 On the
other hand, two English astronomers.
Messrs stoney and Downing, from care
fuI discussion of the paths of these me-
aip
morning of Thursday, Nov 16. In 1894
the principal shower lasted five or six
hours; in 1866, for less than one hour. In
any case, comparatively few meteors NAV
De expected before midnight. 1t would be
safest therefore, to watch the northeast
erh SKY on both Tuesday and Wednesday
evenings and, If many meteors are seen
before midnight, a greater number NAV
be expected later"
Inc uncertainty as to the time of the
appearance of the meteors has made n
necessary for the observers to be in readi-
ness at any time, and the CORPS win begin
us observations at u O'Clock tonight con-
tlhuInS them until dawn, and again to-
morrow night and Thursday morning
Great care and accuracy are required. ana
the observers have each been assigned
their duties, so that the observations. both
visual and by the cameras Will be conduct
ed with absolute precision. The number
OF photographs by The telescope camera
VIII depend upon the frequency of
the meteors. Whether the showers
Will be as spectacular as those of
slxty-six years ago is question
upon which astronomers differ an thA
year 500, on the last day of Moharrem,
stars shot hitler and thither and flew
against each other like a swarm of To-
Gusts; this phenomenon lasted until day.
break; people were thrown into consterna.
m Tor
High; there was never the like seen ex-
cept ON the coming of the Messenger OF
God on whom be benediction and peace"
In these words an Arabian historian of
700 years ago refers to a great shower of
shooting stars which terrorized the peopla
OF ms day. Twenty times since then has
the earth in its flight through space rush
ed headlong into the cloud of star-dust
which manifested itself in so magnificent
manner, and twenty times has ignorance
OF the cause of the phenomenon smitten
quaking souls of people in various parts
or the world with terror In this lasr
year but one of the nineteenth century.
however, astronomers calmly predict the
event, the people wait for it with more
or less emotion, according to tempera-
ments, and go about their business lust
as though 1t We're mere pyrotechnic spec
tacle provided for their amusement.
To-day the earth in its annual journey
al OuilN 'iS sun crosses the orbit of Tenn
peFs comet and the result viii be seen
IN the showers of meteors which come
from It, As explained by Mr.. Ashnore
IN the Morning News, the quarter of the
heavens from which the meteors will come
IS in the constellation Leo which rises
about midnight a little to the north of the
east point of the horizon. The point of
the heavens from which they come is
called the radiant, because the meteors
seem to radiate from this point in every
direction, and 1t is located near the center
of group of stars called the Sickle. of
which the bright fixed star Regulus is the
largest.
As this point does not rise above the
horizon until about midnight it is plain
that the most meteors will be seen only
between midnight and day
Astronomers all over the world are pre-
pairing 10 observe the coming shower. and
the results viii doubtless throw much
light upon meteoric astronomy. One of
the important points TO be ascertained is
the radiant" or the exact spot in the
heavens, from which the meteors come.
This will be ascertained by eye observa-
ton of a number of meteor tracks, which
will be marked upon previously prepar red
star maps, and which, being extended
backward, viii intersect in a common
point. Photography will collect most ac-
curately the data for this purpose and
thousands of cameras all over the world
Will record every flash and preserve it for
careful study.