A CATALOGUE OF OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 409 
In the fourth and fifth chapters, the positions of all the known radiant- 
points of the northern hemisphere, with respect to the terrestrial apex, are 
projected by Prof. Schiaparelli on a single planisphere, having the pole of the 
ecliptic at the centre, and the sun and anthelion, and the apex and anti- 
apex, at the four points of the ecliptic, in the border of the planisphere. It 
thus appears that, owing to the generally low position of the sun beneath the 
horizon during the time of the observations, no radiant-points within 60°, 
and only twelve radiant-points within 90° of the sun have been observed, the 
remaining thirty-nine radiant-points belonging to the anti-solar hemisphere, 
a large portion of which, at night, was in the observer’s view throughout 
the time. On the other hand, thirty-one points of radiation of shower- 
meteors are found within 90° of the apex, and only twenty occur within 90° 
of the anti-apex of the earth’s way*, although the apex was seldom seen 
above, and the anti-apex was rarely hidden below the horizon during the 
observations. The practical results of observation, therefore, confirm the 
supposition that the apex of the earth’s way is also an apex of concentration 
of meteoric showers, and that consequently the “resultant,” or average 
flight of meteors, taken collectively throughout the whole year, is from the 
direction of that apex. 
N 
y 
v 
H 
Projection of Radiant-points of the northern hemisphere (see Report for 1864, pp. 99, 
100), showing their relative positions with respect to the circle of the ecliptic and to 
the apex of the earth’s way. By G. V. Schiaparelli. 
* The proportion derived from theory is 43:8, or 54:1. The practical difference of 
the result may be accounted for by the large preponderance of evening observations. 
2F 
