GLORY OF THE STARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21328, 1 November 1932, Page 6

GLORY OF THE STARS

GREAT METEORIC DISPLAY POSSIBILITY THIS MONTH POSITIONS OF PLANETS BY CP.CX AtTSTIIALI3 Among ail the spectacular meteoric di*. "V plays ':. hat have been witnessed by scientific eyes the : hower which emanates from, the constellation Leo in mid-November has undoubtedly been the most prominent and awe-inspiring. It has often been noted thai; the occurrence of some wonderful celestial display has created a keen and enduring interest in astronomy among many who have been privileged to witness the phenomenon. The early displays of thousands cf shooting stars associated with this meteoric stream, played their part in bringing into the fold many new recruits, but the nonappearance of the display on one occasion wrecked ail the interest the shower bad , previously created and dealt a blow at astronomical prediction, the effects of which it has taken many years to overcome. The famous Leonid shower was first witneiised in 1799, but it was net until 1833 that the shower was generally observed. This return was so remarkable that the rnpresa upon the popular mind has never been obliterated. Like a Snowfall Tito words of an eye-witness • of that display are worth quoting. "At 50 minutes past 3 a.m. one of the most splendid sight# perhaps that mortal eyes have ever beheld was opened to our astonished gaze. From, then until daylight the appearance of the heavens was awfully sublime. It would seem as r: worlds upon worlds from the . infinity of space were rushing like a whirlwind to our globe ... . - and the 3taxs descended like a snowfall to the Earth." ,A 1" hough even the scientists of that day knew practically nothing about meteors is was not long before an American astronomer discovered the periodicity of the display and predicted that the meteors would been seen again in November, 1566. This prediction was eventually fulfilled - by another wonderful shower of shooting stars.. A year later rt was discovered that tha meteors providing the display moved in an orbit similar to Tern pel's cornet, which was discovered in 1865, and which was also found to have a period of 33 years. Therefore, scientists and public alike looked forward with keen anticipation to. another brilliant aisplav of meteors in 1899. The Eftilure in 1899 A few days before the 1599 shower waj expected to take place two English astronomers announced that the perturbative action of Jupiter, which the comet had closely approached iri the interval, had probably altered the period of the meteor stream, so that the rich display might not occur. However, their cooclusiions were published too late to be widely known, and the failure of the Leonids to appear was the worst blow ever suffered by astronomy in the eyes of the' public. 'since that date the • opinion has often been expressed, but without good grounds, that a fine display might been seen in 19.52 or 1933' if perturbative forces brought the stream once more to the Earth's neighbourhood. Recently the problem has been attacked by several prominent astronomers. Dr. Crommelin, in England, has examined the history of TempeLfc. comet from the present day right back,to 1366, and has calculated all the perturbative forces affecting it in that time. Dr. Crommelin finds that the distance of the comet's node (where a meteoric display can be witnessed) from the earth's orbit was 599.000 miles in 1566. 856.000 in 1899, and will be 378.000' in 1933. Therefore the mebeors will be half a million miles nearer to us this year than they were in 18S9, arid, there is a good possibility of a fne. displav bents witnessed about November 16. Possibility of Rich Shower The Russian astronomer Maltzev has attacked the problem in a different way by considering only the period of tb«> meteor stream. From his study of the conditions he predicts a maximum for the display about eight hours earlier than that deduced by Dr. Crommelin from a study of the cornst alone. Dr. Wylie, arj, American. astronomer, has carried the prediction! a stage further by comparing tha predicted maxima of recent years with the maxima actually observed, and finds thai in each instance it is necessary to add 14 hours to Maltzev's prediction to maka observation; and calculation agree. From this it appears that the most spectacular portion of the shower will occur over Japan, China and the Philippines on the civil date November 17. - Australia and Nmv Zealand arc rather far south, but still should get an excellent view, if a r:icli shower takes place. Bearing in mind the failure of 1899 astronomer.> cannot- definitely say that tha person who rises at 4 a.m. on November 17 will be rewarded with a sight that has not had a counterpart in the last half century, hut the chances are favourable that such will be the case. During the month the Sun will move through Libra into Scorpio, and its noonday altitude will increase from 57deg. to 74deg. The Moon will be in conjunction with the various planets as follows: Saturn, 4th; Mars, 22nd; Jupiter, 23rd; Venus, 26th; Mercury, 29th. A faint star will be occulted on the evening of ihi Bth. Mercury will be at its greatest elongation in tlie evening sky on the 14th. Saturn is the only other planet visible in the evening sky. Mars, Jupiter and Venus can be found in the morning sky, rising but a few hours before sunrise.