Year: 1866

Twining and Newton have written valu


able papers in connection with it.


The appearance of shooting stars il


quite common, but in the months of Au


gust and November of each year they arr


seen in greater numbers, generally abou


the 18th of November The great me


teoric shower of 1899 seems to have


drawn the attention of astronomers more
particularly to this subject, and from


that time to the recurrence of the meteor.


ic showers in 1888, and up to the present


day, they have been endeavoring to refer


the different phases and characteristics


of the phenomenon to laws, and to es'


tabish the exact anniversary of Its ap-
pearance.


Thus far the more brilliant of these


meteoric showers have occurred at inter


vals of. SO years; that of 1888 was es-


peoially distinguished by the immense
number of moving meteors to be seen at
once, and for the remarkable size and
splendor Ct many of them. Among the
myriads of blazing meteors visible on
that occasion, one was seen at several
places on this continent. It was recog-
nized by several observers by its extraor-
binary size and brillianoy, as well as by
the length Of time its train remained
visible, which was about ten minutes
The luminous train seemed to follow the
meteor in a serpentine course, and finally
disappeared in a vast nebulous cloud,
many times larger than the moon, and
which continued~to move onward with a
velocity greater than the clouds.


The meteorie displays of 1899 and
1888 were characterized by the fall of
meteorites, which, rushing towards the
surface Of the earth with a loud noise,
penetrated beneath it several feet. The
periodicity of these starry showers is
not so definitely ascertained with regard
to the day as the year. They have oc-
CURED to a greater or less degree in the
months Of August and November, from
1888 to 1880; but the most remarkable
of them have appeared on the 18th of
November, or between that date and the
14th.


The next appearance of the meteoric
phenomenon, therefore, is expected on
or about the 12lh of next month. The
observations of astronomers have de-
monstrated that the shooting stars are
more numerous between midnight and
sunrise, and the majority of them agree
in fixing the radiant point-that pointiu
which the lines described by the meteors
in their fight center in the constellation
Leo, limiting the area Of radiant to the
vicinity Of Regulus in the
neck Of the lion. Others assign the
radiant point to the constellation Orion


The theory most generally accepted in
accounting for the regular recurrence Of
showers, is that an unusual ag-
of these asteroids exist in the
plane which is reached by the enrth at
that point Of its orbit, and through which
the earth is several hours in passing, al
though observations have not been suff
ciently numerous to establish the exact
period Of the earth's arrival at this part
of its orbit During the flight of mete-
Ors in November, 1888, much apprehen-
SION was manifested from the fear that
one or more of these asteroids would
come into collision with the earth but
hitherto no disastrous consequences have
ensued from this grand celestial display, |
md although there is some reason to be-
jeve that an event of this kind is posi-
Die, scientific men unite in the opinion
hat such a calamity is not within the
pounds Of probability.