ASTRONOMIC PHENOMENA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 165, 10 July 1918, Page 7

ASTRONOMIC PHENOMENA.

On. April 27th. last we received from J. Taylor a. long communication, entitled '*Enekle"s Comet, and other Notable Aisironomio. Phenomena.'' For this at the time we had no space. Mr Taylor now particularly requests that we publish the ariicle on the grounds that the appearance of the new star since the article vva? written* render certain of his observations of special interest. After mnikiug reference to "remarkable seis-mological and astronomic phenomena which "ontinue to occur." he dealt with Enckle's Comet. meteors, and thou went on to say :"I have noticed each night this* week a strange nebulous haze in 'S"orpJo> quite distinct from the well-known nebulae and star clusters: and which has. had very much the appearance, of another new comet, except for its unusually slow movement.. It. ha,s appeared below (or Eastoil 'Scorpio, and about 10 degrees -S E. of the briliant red star An.ta.res. If- has* shown up well, of longish shape a. small comet-, from 10 o'clock "till after mid.uight. May I ask if any of your readers can confirm this observation? Possibly it may prove to be another comer. "But possibly it may orove to be a. brief view of a very distant meteorite swarm. a.r>peariri,g- as what is known as an aerolite cloud, similar to that described by Damnehos. and as mentioned in Humboldt's 'Cosmos' (vol. iv. p. 542). which we are told. 'shone 70 davs and poured forth falling stars.' Perhaps thi-; may help to explain thp unusual abundance of brilliant meteors, which have .shot lately from between the constellations "Leo and Scorpio, and more directlv fromthe Eastern sky. where Scorpio is fo well placed for observation from about 8 p.m. to midnight. It seems a.s if there are both meteor -streams, comets and asteroid's in our vicinity. Un-usual-Ily abundant, and coming more and I more into evidence. And this may ! further help to explain, the origin of | the re~erri violent wind storms to which I made reference through various newspapers., ft may also be regarded as further proof of the exceotion-il cosmic strain which I predicted, a7id which since yielded! the verv destructive and serious earthquake at Los Amreles, reported! on the 22nd, inst. Tt may be rememberedi that T specificallv mentioned California as one of the places N. of the Equator where the present prevailing and prolonged cosm'c strain would chiefly and increasingly tell (see Greymouth Evening (Star of March 19th and of \pril 17th : also the Nelson Evening Mail . : of March 20th). The importance of observations, reflections, and predictions will be more apparent a few months hence. "But if I may venture on a rather bold conjecture, as distinguished from a definite and positive prediction., it does seem as if the Earth in its orbital movement is approaching the path of scattered meteoritic swarms-, which may shortly cause still finer displays of meteoritic pyrotechnics,. These are among some of the outstanding and erratic astronomic phenomena which I am trying to red.nce to law and order, and to which j I have already found several important [ new clues. What has now been said shows, I think, that I am well on the track of the ohief causes of storms and I earthquakes, and even of meteor showers. And these are matters of great moment to astronomy, geology, meteorology, and general science : to say nothing of the economic bearing such research and discoveries in- this volcanic country. The study is. vitally connected- with the origin of certaini meteorological phenomena: andi much more so than is indicated in any existing text books-. It is: a pity that many people don't take the trouble to observe and carefully consider farts which pass before their eyes'. They should be much more careful both to record' and 1 publish their observations, especially in these southern latitudes. They would then contribute more to icon.structive science, instead, of resting content with iconoclastic criticism.

Wolf, of Heidelburir. found upon old photographic plrtc the tyos-H ion.' of comet 1905. as an apparent star of magnitude 15.5, 310 less than- 783 days, or over two years, before the date on -whibh it was discovered' as a comet. From observing certain . perturbations similar to those. I have recently traced, Professor H. A. Newton predicted the remarkable shower of meteors of November 13th and' 14th, 1866. Has prediction, like that of Hallev, proved- eoirect, though ho didi not live to witness its fulfilment. For the reasons I have mentioned and others lam stjsjngly inelined to conclude that meteor showers, 1 from both sporadic and periodic sources, will come more and more into evidence, especially about tho middle of next June. Til ere is, however, no cause for alarm. I am not talking about the world coming to an end. But yon may get your binoculars and (cameras ready for display of celestial fireworks; and you should keep a particularly close watch on the constellations' Leo and Scorpio; for the chief brilliants seem to be shooting from the 15. and N. 8., and many of them are sirikin gthe Earth full in the face as she revolves cm) her axis from W. to lE., while progressing on her orbit around the Sun.—l am, etc., JOSEPH TAYLOR. M.TS. Nelson, April 26, 1918."