Evening journal., 1899-09-29
The NE ETEORIC SHOWER
Preparations Made for Obser-
vations in November.
VALUABLE RESULTS IxPEolID

BY ASTRONOMERS AS THE RE-
SUIT OF THE LEoNID SHOW
ER-PROJEcT FOR AN oBsERVA-
TORY ON THE ISLAND OF JA-
MAICA.
Preparations are being made on an
extensive scale at the Harvard Obser-
vatory, Cambridge, Mass, for observa-
tons during the meteoric shower OF
November This will be the second
and greatest year Of the period during
which the earth passes three times
through or near the Leonid shower,
and if the conditions are favorable it
is expected that the observations will
give results Of great value to astronom-
ical science. Last year, when the
earth passed through the front end OF
the comet, many observations we're
handicapped by cloudy weather on the
best night. some only obtaining inn
pressions of about 400 meteors. At
Harvard, however. the results were sat
isfactory. over 500 being obtained. This
year the earth passes through the cen
tre OF the comet, and on the principal
night, which will probably be that OF
the 18th, the meteoric shower will pre-
sent scene Of rare beauty to those
who have the hardihood TO sit up until
after midnight to watch for
g. Before midnight there will not be
much to reward the watcher The
Harvard Observatory authorities are
sending out a circular, with blank
forms on which to record the time,
brilliancy, color, etc, Of the meteor oh
served, to astronomers and others in
torested all over the country, and also
to many points in Europe. In addition
to this a large special force of assist
ants will be employed at the observa-
tory in Cambridge, which has excellent
facilities for making observations.
JAMAICA AS A FIELD FOR OBSER-
WALTON.
AMQln0l NhdNANA NIAAM 10 NMEdhAnk
the attention Of the observatory is the
project Of having constructed a large
new telescope for the purpose Of max
ing observations in Jamaica, OF a kind
for which that island is especially
adapted. Professor William II. Pick
ering has recently spent some time in
Jamaica. returning about two weeks
ago, and while there he made a num-
Der Of observations with a fine-ineh
telescope with view to testing the
climatic and atmospheric conditions
there with relation 80 astronomical
work Most OF these observations were
made at the western end Of the island
at an altitude OF about 1000 feet, and
the results were highly satisfactory
the atmosphere being found exceeding.
ly clear and in every way we'll suited
There has as yet been no Astronomical
work done on the island, excepting {
little OF a minor character, relating
10 clouds. which was done for the Har
ward Observatory. The peculiar ad
vantage which Jamaica possesses il
that while at Arequipa, Peru. the Win
ter months are cloudy, in Jamaica the,
are clear. About a year and half henc
the planetAIars comes to opposition, AM
owing TO the cloudy season il canno
be observed to advantage either at Are
quipa or at the Lowell Observatory, Il
Flagstaff. Arizona, which. although nc
officially connected with the Harvar
Observatory. works to some extent /
connection with it, Both Of thes
points are well adapted as regards a
titude. Arequipa being 5000 and Flsl
staff 1000 feet above the sea level. bl
the atmospheric conditions are bad
his particular time Il is thought thl
these observations could be made
good advantage in Jamaica and al
,ther still more important series of o.
servations for which the island wou
be an excellent vantage point will
those 70 be made, at about the san
ime, when the little planet Eros a
proaches the arth. 1t is by this plan
hat astronomers calculate the distaI.
TO the sun, which is, so to speak. q
yardstick by which all other astron
mical' observations are made. The
are also some other classes Of wo
for which Jamaica offers particular
good advantages.
THE TELESCOPE.
In the telescope which it is propos
o procure, if possible. for this VOL
he lens will be much smaller than II
Of the famous telescope at Yerkes {
,ervatory, which is forty inches in
ameter and the largest in the wor
,ut it will be Of a different kind a
adapted to a different class Of wo
is distinguishing feature will be
anusuall length. over one hundred tin
be width Of the aperture, and it wol