Evening star., 1901-11-09

to the side Of our axis of vision will sweep
through great areas of the sky.
Watch the Dipper.
The constellation Leonis rises shortly be-
fcre midnight on November IA but is not
well in view till i am 1t can be found
readily by using the pointers" I'm tho
Upper In a reverse direction from the GUS
tornary use In finding the North Star Leo
MS VIII be identified about as far of as the
North Star is the other way and as a
very sood outline OF sickle with the
prient star Hegulus at the outer end of the
handle. A better way Is TO use the two
stars forming the side of the Dipper near
est the handle for pointers These point.
again In the direction opposite 10 The North
Star, directly at the Sickle The radiant or
the Leonios is within the curve Of the blade
OF lne Sickle. near the center. Tn, whole
OF the constellation. however. does not
come into good view tin about am
In observing meteors the important
things looked for by astronomers are the
number and brightness. Color length Of
pain ana other things are useful; but with
the number and brightness something of
Importance can be done. and what is of
more general interest, one need not be a
professional astronomer to do ones part in
that something.
In a circular issued hy fha Harvard ob-
serVatory and designed to secure world
wfde cooperation In the work OF observing
the expected Leonids. IL has been recon-
TOOK Tor ten shooting stars To anpear on
the record made should appear the place
OF observation; the observers post office
pe; the astronomical date, which is
optaineo py using the date OF the previous
evening Tor the morning observations also
stiice the astronomical day begins at noon:
the ume used, whether Greenwich, stand
ara or local; the beginning and ending Of
observations, which were to be made ,,s,,-
ally With Intervals of rest between whom
otnef special observations might be made.
or from other causes. IL the shootipr- s,o,,
nave long paths or marked Characters a
iess number than ten might be oh ,san n
ha a,, ar numerous larger number could
oe counted. The observations need only
care, system and perseverance TO be OF real
value, so that the resulting record can he
sent TO Harvard, IL one chooses to accept
the FORMAL invitation of the observatory 10
DO so, with the assurance that n can tbare
records. '''''
brightness and Number
Ihe estimate of magnitude should be
made between the periods of counting. The
counting, 1t is recommended, should en-
gage the whole attention of the observer
while 1t is in progress Besides This mat
ter of numbers and brishtness ohservations
OF color, of the direction and character Of
pain, whether straight curved or ba,ino
an angie; or shooting stars conspicuous for
size, explosion or for leaving traiI ard
so on, are some of the Interesting tbings
lhat may be noted by the curious observer
content with the use OF the naked eve.
With good camera a higher grade of
work may be done. and the photoeraphs
VIII AFFORD data to the astronomer for de-
terminlng the exact place of the radiant
PROVIDED, OF course, any streaks on them
appear TO be referrable to the presence OF
shooting stars, which is by no means a
sure expectation. Shooting stars are too
brief In duration to make much of an Inn
preston on the plate, but it is quite possi-
ID md
De considered as being well worth while nv
the amateur. The rara avis of photo-
graphic observation would be the securing
oi spectrum OF a shooting star. but this
must probably be left to observations like
those at Harvard and Yale. which are
equipped with special apparatus Harvard.
indeed, Is the only observatory that has vet
succeeded in getting a spectrum of q shoot
ing star, but this success was secured only
by accident. And the chances of a Shoot
ing star flashing across the field of yieg
In just the right way are always extremely
small, or course, under ordinary conof-
tons, although with the great swarm that
was first eXpected-and may still il an
pears, be looked for with reasonable de-
gress OF hope-a spectrum could be hoped
Tor with some confidence
Ready for Observation
I'VE are in no such state of lively antici-
patton as in the last three years." saws
Prof. Pickering, ''but shall be ready at
Harvard for any emergency. Hope is by no
means abandoned. and should this rare
phenomenon appear in its pristine spIendor
1t would be a pity to lose the opportunity
to secure for astronomical science ALI that
is possible to derive from il in the wav OF
an increased knowledge. Our experience
while waiting for them has been a good
drlll, at least for this work. and the oh
serVatory stan could undoubtedly step I'm
now and have the HIeteoric observing ar
paratus in fun working order within a few
minutes
In the same way any preparations made
by amateurs Of photography will be usefIl
whatever happens, a drill and prepRra-
ton for that most fascinating department
of photography, the recording of the ph,s-
nomena of astronomy. The Harvard OBJ
SerVatory, moreover. will be glad TO have
any assistance which may be afforded il
from those who are particularly Interested
In the phenomena.