128 Star anfr Meatber Gossip 



Association Meteor Section : " If we think of the 

 direction in which the axis of the earth is inclined, we 

 have a simple physical explanation. From summer 

 to winter solstice the orbital motion of the earth is 

 such that the northern hemisphere must encounter 

 more meteors, and from winter to summer solstice it 

 must encounter fewer. On the southern hemisphere 

 the maximum number will be encountered when the 

 fall on the northern hemisphere is at its minimum, and 

 vice versa." 



NOTES ON COMETS 



In the early stages of the World War a comet 

 (Dela van's) became conspicuously visible with the 

 naked eye. A number of correspondents made in- 

 quiries respecting it at the time it was passing under 

 the stars of the Plough. One of them Mr. J. Timmis, 

 of Warrington stated that on seeing something which 

 he took to be a comet he called his companion's atten- 

 tion to the object, when the latter declared it to be 

 " a star with a tail." Mr. Timmis sent me a sketch of 

 the object and its surroundings, and this showed the 

 correct position of Delavan's Comet, which was then 

 nearly in a line with the stars of Megrez and Phecda, 

 or Delta and Gamma Ursse Majoris. 



It was at much about that time I obtained my first 

 naked-eye view of the comet. In a way, it was an 

 accidental view. A motor fire-engine had dashed 

 past me (as only a London motor fire-engine can dash 

 past one) and I glanced in the direction it took in order 

 to see if the glare of the outbreak was visible. The 

 direction happened to be due north, and instead of a 

 fire glow on the horizon I saw, right across London, 



