The evening times., 1899-10-26
TO WATCH TEE MB9GORS
Plans at the Naval Observatory for
the November Showers.
Flights to BE Timed, So That the
Depth of the Earth's Atmospheric
The Reason for the Display as
Given by Expert MeteoroloEists.

The meteoric display that is scheduled
TO appear in these latitudes about the mid
die of November will find the Naval OBJ
servatory officials prepared to note and
photograph anything of a startling nature
that may occur. 1t is seldom that an op-
portunity for scientific research in this
branch of astronomy presents itself, and
| when il does there is no lack OF energy
displayed in taking advantage of it at the
Observatory. Outside of a natural curiosi-
| ty aroused in everyone by this strange
! phenomenon, there is a scientific reason
why astronomers want to make the most
/ careful observations at the time these dis
/ turbances occur. -,
Ii has always been a matter OF conjec-
ture as TO the depth of the atmosphere that
surrounds the earth. different astronomers
! placing il anywhere from fifty to one hum
dred miles. AS these meteoroids. or shoot
ing stars. as they are commonly called,
are visible only after coming in contact
with the earth's atmosphere, it is thought
that the correct altitude can be determined
by noting their speed from the time they
appear until they become vaporized or lost
in the earth. The basis for this opinion
is that if body is timed in its flight
/ through space the distance covered can be
computed.
The meteoric shower which is predicted
for November is merely repetition of the
regular thirty -three-year shower. The first
occurred in the year 902 A. D., which an
old chronicle speaks of as the year of the
stars from the brilliancy of the shower
which then took place. The only explana-
tion of this periodical display that is given
by the Naval Observatory authorities is
that there is long thin stream Of meteor
oids which is travelling around the sun in
the form of an ellipse, and every thirty
three years, in the month of November.
the earth plunges through this group at
such a speed that when the meteoroids en-
ter the air ii is claimed their velocity is
forty-four miles a second. i
The preparations that are being made
at the observatory in anticipation OF this
events are very simple. Men will be sta
toned at different points with map of
the heavens before them. The constella
tion of Leo will be taken as a basis for all
calculations AS a meteoroid appears its
position will be noted on the chart and the
time of its flight through the air taken.
There are no scientific instruments invent
ed to assist in these observations. They
are performed with the naked eye alone.
When Professor Harkness. of the Observ-
atory, was asked If the different telescopes
could be used in taking observations at the
time of the display, he said It would be
useless, as only an occasional fash Of light
would be noticeable passing across the
lens. All of the scientific men at the OBJ
servatory are greatly interested in the
coming meteoric shower, and expect to dis
cover many new things in relation to this
interesting phenomenon.
The positions of a great many of the
larger planets ard other heavenly bodies
are so peculiar at this time that display
of unusual brilliancy is expected. Pro-
fessor Harkness said yesterday that the
maximum fall of meteors will be reached
between November 13 and 49,.