2^4 SHOOTING STARS. 



^boating ftat^. 



W. F. DENNING, F.R.A.S, F.M.S. 



THAT branch of astronomy relating to shooting stars has 

 made great progress during recent years. The splendid 

 display of meteors in November 1866, so generally seen in 

 England and many other parts of the world, incited enquiry into 

 the probable nature and origin of these phenomena, and all the 

 records of previously observed showers were collected together so 

 that they might be amply investigated. Soon afterwards a 

 connection was inferred to exist between the orbits of these 

 meteors and certain periodical comets. Since that important 

 discovery was made, considerable value has been attached to the 

 observation of meteors^ so that this hitherto neglected department 

 of science has been assigned a prominent place in astronomy. Of 

 so modern a date that it may almost be termed '^ a creation of 

 yesterday," it must be admitted however, that as yet we know 

 very few of the vast number of meteor systems which swarm in 

 planetary space and very little about the few that we do know -, 

 but it is astonishing to note how quickly our knowledge herein is 

 spreading, and how many new facts are being gathered each year 

 by increasing numbers of observers. 



