366 Shooting Stars of December 7, 1838. 
nearly in the ecliptic. The grand display of April 20, 1803,* 
agreed with all the November displays, in this, that it appeared 
chiefly after ans but where the radiant thew was, no man 
can tell us. 
-. There are.other seasons in the year at whick meteors may possi- 
bly be f lly numerous: some of these are,—Oct. 15, 
pats 10—20, Jan. 2, “Feb. 15, July 28, Sept. 11, Nov. 8.. It is 
not worth while here to give the details of the various accounts 
from which these dates are taken. They are generally vague, 
and mostly reported by those who had no just ideas concerning 
the average number of meteors. Of this list, the two first appear 
the most worthy of attention. Observations should however be 
made at all these seasons, and indeed at all possible times ; for it 
is alike important that we should ascertain those seasons in which 
meteors are uncommonly rare, and those in which they are. un- 
commonly abundant.+ 
In order to obtain all the data necessary for the formation of a 
theory of shooting stars, we must have observations in various 
places and at various times, which will show us not only their 
numbers and their apparent motions, but also their érwe velocities, 
directions, and distances. This is a part of the subject which de- 
mands vastly more labor and skill, than the other. It is far from 
certain, that the results obtained by Benzenberg,{ Brandes, Que- 
_telet, arid their associates, will apply with general accuracy to 
parts of the year, or of the night, different from those in which they 
: oo and it is therefore much: to be desired, that similar 
° s sho uld be made i in all: regions of the om 
* This shower ought to be re-discovered, and there can be little doubt that if 
diligent observation should be made at this season of the year, in all quarters of 
the globe, some evidence of its return might be detected. 
i If any person who has the opportunity, will consult the Evhemondes Societatis 
Meteorologice Palatine, (5 tom. 4to. Manheim -, 1785 ?) and publish anew all the 
observations on luminous meteors contained in that valuable series, he will do 
a service to science. The work is inaccessible here, and seems to be neark y forgot- 
ten every w. 
- ¢ This genileman, a Professor at Dasseldorf on the Rhine, divides with Prof. 
Brandes of Leipsic, (who died in May, 1834,) the honor of having first - made a 
in Dec. 1798) definite observations on the distances, Mei. and pene 
ing stars. The Ist livr. of the 3d series of Quetelet’s Corresp. Math. ey Bea. 
Bruxelles, Aoit, 1837, (the only one I have seen,) ne Sap eiary interesting letter 
on ie subject from Benzenberg; and also a valuable paper by Quetelet, giving 
e details of the simultaneous observations made by himself and his associates, 
olive aa * between 9 and 12, P. M., in June and July, 1824, pe se 
three methods of calculation applicable to these observations. 
