The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-05
HUNDREDS OF
METEORS TO
THRONG SKIES
August Excellent Month for
interested Amateur
Astronomers.
TIMES TO GATHER LISTS
Late Hours Required for
Sport; Authority to
Collect Data.
En- Science Serotcs

Eb Science ESrDtCS
With the coming of August, thous-
snds of amateur astronomers in all
parts of the United States now are
watching the night skies for
meteors, or shooting stars. BY max
ing careful records of what they
see. without the aid of telescopes or
even opera glasses, they are gath
ering data that will enable scien-
fists to learn more of the behavior
of these celestial visitors.
Meteor observation is one branch
of astronomy that does not require
an observatory. A pair of reason
ably keen eyes, q willingness to sit
I'D good part of The night. and
q clear, dark sky are the only eS-
sentials.
These reports are being received
and studied by Professor Charles ?.
Oliver. director of the Flower OBJ
servatory of the University Of Penn
svlvania, in Philadelphia. He is one
Of the leading meteor authorities Of
the world.
1 to Best Hours
Meteor gazing is a sport that
REQUIRES late huors, for the earth
turns in such a way that after mid
night the meteors come towards the
earth. while before midnight they
have to catch up with the earth.
The result is that from 100 to AGO
a. m. are the best hours Of the
chase
Even in the earlier hours during
August, if a person gets away from
the brilliant light of a large city
and watches the sky, several
meteors probably will be seen IN
the course of an hour. And after
midnight. dozen or more might
reward the searcher on any August
night.
But on two particular nights these
numbers will be enormously IN
creased. On the nights Of Aug. 10
end II, or really the early mornings
of Aug. II and II, several hundred
an hour usually may be seen.
It is the paths that the shooting
stars take in the sky, however, that
form the astronomers most valu-
able data. One way of plotting these
is to have a map Of the sky, and,
with the aid Of a small flashllght,
to mark down the paths with pen
Gil.
Radiate From PerseUs
AS the meteors all move through
the stars in a straight line, is only
necessary to notice where the trail
begins and ends, then to mark these
points on the map and to connect
them with the aid Of ruler. Each
path should be numbered and the
number. with the time that particu-
lar meteor occurred, should be list
ed on a separate sheet.
When the August meteors are
charted in this way, it is found
that they do not dash about the sky
at random. like members of a
swarm of bees. All the straight lines
drawn on the map will be seen to
radiate from a very SMALL area, a
place in the constellation of Perseus.
This is q group of stars that rises
above the northeastern horizon
about midnight at this time of the
year.
Remember. there is no use trying
to observe from big city, so get out
into the country, away from the
bright lights, and where you have
clear view of the northeastern hor-
lion. Start observing about mid
night. if it is clear As the moon is
at first quartz on the 18th. it sets
at midnight. and the sky is dark.
Have a small flashlight handy to
see the map, but it had better be
covered with several thickneSSes OF
tissue paper. Otherwise the bril-
liant glare of the light may tempo
rarily blind you to faint meteor.
Send Lists to Times
AS soon as you see a meteor no.
tice its path in the sky. You can
do this most easily by holding a
ruler at arms length. parallel to
the meteor's path, and sighting
along it. Then, with the aid of the
fiashlight, draw its path on the map.
Number it. and on a separate sheet
note the time and brightness. You
can Judge its brightness as COM
pared with nearby stars.
If you can not chart the meteorS,
simply count them. On a piece OF
paper lay out series Of spaces,
marked u. 1890 to l. etc. Every
time YOU see a meteor during these
times make a check, then you can
count up totals later.
And then. when the two nights
are over. do not forget that you
mus. send your records in TO the
scientists, together with an accurate
statement of the place from which
YOU observed the meteors, in order
that they may be of use. Send
them TO the Meteor Editor OF The
Times and they will be forwarded