The age-herald., 1899-11-14
RHETORIC SHOWERS
 EXPECTED TODAY

Williams Bay, Wis, November 11-The astronomers at the Yerkes Observatory will make the most of their opportunities to observe the great meteoric shower which will take place on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday nights. Under the direction of Prof. George F. Hale certain experiments will be undertaken which never before have been tried.
 The Yerkes Observatory is unique in that it has fully equipped machine and instru- ment shop, and any instrument or modii- cation desired may be constructed at any time. An instrument which has been under construction here is a 24-inch rehecting tele4 scope. The concave mirror which forms the basis of this telescope was made by the optician, G. w. Ritchey, and the entire telescope was constructed under his direc- tion. As stated, it has aperture of 24 inches and a focal length of feet. The mounting has just been completed and will be used for the first time in observing the meteors. This telescope is especially adapted for photographic work as its short focal length gives it quick action. It will be the first time a rehecting telescope has been used for photographing meteors.
 The principal disadvantage is the com4 paratively small field of view, and unless there is dense shower it is possible that no meteor will cross its field. Another dif- ficulty is that it will not gather the quanti- ty of light that an ordinary portrait lens will This is obviated largely by another idea original with Prof. Hale, which is to use concave photographic plate. This plate is held rigidly across the end of the 
 mirror.
 The telescope will be turned toward the point from which the meteors appear to en- ter the sky. It is hoped that the photo- graphs of a number of small meteors in- visible to the eye will be obtained. If a number of these be photographed the location of the radiant be determined with greater accuracy.
 Attached to the polar axis of the tele- scope is a piece of oak timber eight feet long and eight inches square. On this will be mounted sixteen photographic cameras of varying sizes and styles. They contain ordinary portrait lenses Two of them are six inches, and three are four inches in diameter the rest smaller. These will be turned in every direction, so as to cover. as wide range of sky, and get as many meteor photographs as possible. Be- fore the apertures of some of these cameras prisms will be attached. By this means it is hoped to photograph the spec tra of some of the meteors, and thus learn more of their nature and composition. But one meteor spectrum ever has been photo- graphed. T1iis was at Harvard college ob- servafory last year. The meteor was not a Leonid, but an independent aerolite.
 Two of the observatory force, Mir Adams and MT. Reese, will establish an outside station six miles north. It is expected that observations of the same meteors wiH be these observations the paraIax may be de- termined and the distance of the meteor above the earth.
 In addition to the photographic observa- tions, strict visual observations will be made and the two compared.
 Although the full moon will detract much from the brdlliancy of the scene, Professor Barnard states that it will not affect seri- ously the photographic results. The plates will be given twenty minutes exposure, this being the length of time that the plates can be exposed without being affected by the moonlight
 Altogether it is expected that much new and valuable information will be obtained.
 To Watch Metooric Shower
 New Haven, Conn.,, November 11.-Dr F. l.. Chase, who has charge of the elaborate plans at Yale for observing the great me- cl,o of