The Washington times., 1924-10-21
many M|ETEORS'
IN HEAVENS
soon
astronomy Fans Win Find
November Good Month for
Star Gazing
D. Intsrnatlonal News service.

z
Ever. see a meteor shower? This
y the busy time Of year with the
''gtar gazer," for October and No
.vember are two good months to
look at the stars. November being
the month OF meteors. The Great
Nebula. in Andromeda can be seen
without the aid OF a telescope in
October, says a bulletin from fhe
American Nature Association. In
the East in November you will see
the Pleiades and Hyades in Taurus,
and Aldebaran, the fiery-red eye Of
the bull.
In ancient times November was
known as the Pleiad month. Then
the kings of Persia never failed to
grant any request presentede on No
tyember IL, the day when the
midnight. This exquisite little
tiny dipper, and two additional
one Of the most noted groups in the
heavens. The V-shaped cluster OF
the Hyades is scarcely less famous.
hecau nancy comet.
Mars, when it was only $4,000 600
miles away this summer and nearer
than 1t had been in century, gave
Sa remarkable impetus to star gaz.
ing the American Nature Asso-
citation says. Reports Of a new
comet discovered by the Bonn OBJ
eervatery recall the visit of Hal.ey's
Comet in May, 1910. This visitor
is not due again until 1885,. In, 1910
the comet was only 100000 miles
away.
Every year several meteor swarms
aare due in November. The Leonids,
so called because they come from
the general direction of the con-
stellation Leo, appear about No
vember 10, but you will have to be
up before sunrise to see them, be-
cause Leo y then in the morning
sky.
The Andromedes, which will APP
pear to come from the direction Of
! Andromeda, will appear in the eve
ming hours, however, about No
vember % or "a. Then there are
the Taurids, several different groups
appearing at different times dur
ing the month from different points
in Taurus.
These also will appear in the eve
ming hours from the direction Of
Taurus, nearly due east. An oc-
casional fireball, which is simply a
meteor of exceptional size or bril-
fancy, that may succeed in reach
ing the earth's surface, has been
known to appear among the Tau
rids, so keep an eye on the eastern
h H.
may see something of special in
terest in the way of meteors.
Big Dipper Gone.
Probably first to catch your eye
November evenings win be the
struggling w in Cassiopeia in the
northern heavens, high above the
Pole. You will probably search in
vain for the Big Dipper, Cor it lies
on the opposite side Of the Pole
from Cassiopela and is so close to
the horizon in November that 1t is
concealed from view, partly, IL not
completely, by trees or buildings to
the northward.
Possibly you will be able to make
out the outlines of the Little Dip
per, though, with the North Star,
Polaris, at the end of the handle.
Next to Cassiopeia, the Great
Square in Pegasus, with the con-
stellation of Andromeda joining it
on the east, is one Of the most
noticeable Of the fall groups. It
now lies directly on the meridian
due south Of the zenith. To the
southwest of the Great Square lies
AquariuS, the Water Bearer, which
can be distinguished by the Y
shaped group Of stars, the urn
from which a stream Of faint stars
IL flowing toward the south and
southeast.
In October Mars is the only one
Of the bright planets to be seen.
You may get up before sunrise to
see Venus, which is glorious at this
time. Jupiter and Saturn are too
close to the sun to be seen in Octo-
Der. Mars, still in Aquarius, where
il has been for many months, will
move rapidly eastward during No.
vember and recede from the earth.