Alexandria Gazette

THE NOVEMBER METEORS

The feature of greatest interest on the astronomical calendar for November is the possibility of a brilliant display of Leonids on the 13th and 14th of the month. Once in thirty-three years at about this time in November a wonderful shower of meteors has been observed. The shower of November 12, 1833, is reported to have caused consternation among the ignorant negroes of the South, while it attracted attention the world over. The air is said to have seemed as full of falling stars as snowflakes in a snow storm. In 1866 Europe witnessed a remarkable display for some six or seven hours. The Leonids, as these meteors are called, because they seem to radiate from a point in the constellation Leo, are, therefore, due to return in force in 1899, but the earth will doubtless meet the advance guard this and next year, while there should be some stragglers in 1900. Unfortunately, moonlight will seriously interfere with observations in 1899, while even this year the moon is between the full and the third quarter on the 13th of the month. In 1898 conditions will be more favorable. In any case it will be advisable to watch for Leonids this year, as there is an even chance of something spectacular. Leo does not rise until about midnight this month, so that the later the watch is kept up, the greater the probability of seeing the meteors.

Another well-known meteoric shower due in November is the Andromedes. They are seen on or about the 27th of the month, and come, as their name indicates, from the constellation of Andromeda. Every thirteen years they appear in unusual numbers, the last two times having been in 1872 and 1885, so that the period will be completed in 1898. It is by no means improbable, however, that there will be Andromedes enough to cause comment this year. Andromeda is above the horizon almost the entire night during November, so that the meteors may be expected at any time, although, as a rule, more are seen during the hours after midnight than any other time.

Extensive preparations have been made to photograph the November meteors this year. Yale College Observatory was the pioneer in this work, but the success attained was never very satisfactory. Prof. E. E. Barnard, of the Yerkes Observatory, has secured at one time or another several very good photographs of meteors, and only the other day Prof. Pickering, of Harvard, had the good fortune to photograph the spectrum of a meteor. In all these cases the astronomer had to wait until some meteor chanced to cross the field of his lens, as it would be manifestly impossible to photograph a meteor after it had been found visually. It is hoped now, however, with improved lenses and a great shower probable to catch a large number of meteoric trails on the plates.