The Washington herald., 1922-05-07
GhcNcyuAdS.
Scientific
N67cHS
HOW To WATCH
FOR skY-wANDEREHs.


Anyone can engage In sstro-
nomicsl research and 40 his part
in accomplishing valuable scientific
work by the careful observing and
recording OF the flights Of metsors.
meteorites and fre-balls.
Professional astronomers would
welcome the aid of the amateur in
this particular field Of research
which requires no telescope For
this work only star charts are
needed Since telescopes are not
needed for the work this field OF
endeavor is open TO all. A knowl-
edge Of the principal consultations
and their brightest stars. which is
easily obtained from a study OF
the star charts. is required for an
accurate estimate Of the brightness
OF the meteors and the direction OF
their night through the heavens
More meteors are seen in the
early morning hours preceding
dawn than at any other time. We
are then on the forward side Of the
earth and so are more likely 20
meet meteors moving in the usual
west-to-east direction. Meteors that
are encountered during the night
are moving in the retrograde or
east west direction or else are
| overtsking the earth in it's orbit,
which happens more rarely. For
this reason meteor observing is
| particularly suited TO those who
are abroad just before dawn.
though meteors may be seen at all
hours of the night
The connection between meteors.
I meteorites and hre-balls is not
definitely known. but IL is a sig
nihcent fact that the most meteor
ties are seen during the months of
May. June and July when meteor
swarms and showers are least pre-
vslent. Analyses show that me-
teorites come from regions that are
dehcient in oxygen and where hy-
drogen, chlorine, phosphate and
sulphurous gases are abundant
They do not contain substances
that are found in abundance in the
earth's crUst. To determine the
nature and origin Of the meteor
ties as distinguished from meteors
which are consumed entirely bv
friction in the earth's atmosphere
Is one Of the objects of systematic
| observations of these objects.
The solution Of many problems
OF meteoric astronomy. such as the
height Of the earth's atmosphere,
the direction Of air currents at
high attitudes and the relation Of
comets to swarms of meteors. de-
pends upon careful observation OF
the flights Of meteors by ANA
teurs.
Here are some Of the most es-
sential points TO be Recorded by
the observers: The time-day
hour and minute-of the appear
ance Of the meteor. Its course
across the heavens with reference
&c the fixed stars. Its brightness
ana size compared to one OF the
brighter stars or planets. Its
color, whether reddish. yellow
white or blueish-white. The form
OF the trail, IL observable. Does IL
Fash across the heavens. emit
! sparks. separate into two or more
parts or burst? An estimate OF the
duration of the fight is very i'm
portant and can best be made nv
counting seconds while Observing
the fight. 1t should also he
noticed whether the meteor leaves
trail of smoke and II so how
long IL remains visible-sometires
several hours-and what form IL
takes. The color of the smoke .
should also be noted.
III the meteor is accompanied nv
sound. how many minutes mass
from the FIRST appearance Of light
TO the first sound. often. five min
utes. and how long does the sound
last? The sound should be de-
scrtbed-whether. for instance. /,
is like thunder or the sharp report
Of a pistol. or has a kissing. hum
ming or cracking sound.
Though these suggestions for the
observations of meteors are BY no
means exhaustive they will give
the observer some idea Of the KIND
OF information that will be O,
value 70 the astronomer.-By Isa-
bel NJ Lewis, of the L. S. Naval
Observatory. w. d