100 THE NOVEMBER METEORS. 



The Leonids, which are due in the November skies somewhere 

 between the i3th and i6th of the month, are on the whole the 

 most prominent and interesting of all the meteoric displays 

 during the year. They were not visible in England this year, 

 chiefly owing to cloudy skies, a disappointment that was shared 

 by a large number of observers. This disappointment was felt 

 more keenly from the near approximation of the maximum 

 amount of display, and from the wide currency given to it by the 

 daily Press. We must hope for more propitious circumstances in 

 1899 and 1900, in one of which years the true maximum will 

 undoubtedly occur. The radiant point of the Leonids is in 

 Dec. + 22 and R.A. 150 a short distance from the well-known 

 double star y Leonis, hence the name of Leonids. This point, 

 or rather area, in the celestial vault is the place to which all 

 the trails of the Leonids may be traced. This area in the so- 

 called sickle of the constellation Leo is about 5 in diameter. 

 Dr. Johnstone Stoney, who has paid much attention to the width 

 of this area, states that from the space immediately around this 

 area many of the Leonids come. These meteors he calls clino 

 Leonids, and those coming from the more circumscribed space 

 are true Leonids, a somewhat refined distinction, but seeming to 

 indicate that around the central stream of meteors there is a 

 concentric circle of meteors, less prolific than the central area. 

 This suggestion, however, needs verification. 



The duration of the shower is another matter still subjudice. 

 Mr. Denning thinks November 8th is not too early for some to 

 be seen, and November 2oth will not be too late. The denser 

 portion of the swarm enters our atmosphere from the 1 2th to the 

 1 6th, and should be watched for after mid-night, when the sickle 

 of Leo is fairly above the horizon. There are over 20 other 

 radiants in the vicinity of the true Leonid radiant, but they are 

 not so prolific or swift, and are generally smaller than the true 

 Leonids. It needs some attention to distinguish the true from 

 others, and perhaps only experts are quite competent to the task. 

 When the radiant is on or near the meridian, the rush of 

 Leonids is nearer at right angles with the observer, and the trails 



