SS a eee ee a 
OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 347 
same point in Perseus, for the “newer” radiant, is in a direction more 
oblique to the meridian, extending over the region between Corona and 
Pegasus as far as Algenib. Prof. Serpieri gives two drawings to show the 
relative position of these two radiant-axes, crossing each other near & Persei 
at about the angle given in the accompanying 
figure, with the valuable addition of the meteor- 
flights, indicated by arrows, as most reliably con- 
nected with either line of radiant. For A B, the 
“new” radiant, there are 52 meteor-tracks 
(1873), and for ae 50 tracks. It would appear 
that the apparent velocities of the A B meteors 
were greater than for a, and for A B also a greater 
number of the meteors haying a less precise point +m 
a 
of radiation. For the ‘‘new” radiant about 
22 meteors showed a very good centre at ,. 
R.A. 44°, Decl.+55° (Prof. Newton’s centre B 
being 43°, +57°); about 17 meteors belonging to the same current and 
radiant-axis, from a point at 45°, +59°; and about 8 others from one of Dr, 
Schmidt’s radiants at 50°, + 62°. 
II. Prof. Serpieri, in another paper, records a strong display of the zodiacal 
light on the evening of the 12th December, 1873; also that Professor 
Denza had noticed the same evening at Montcalieri, in Piedmont, a remark- 
able “lucidity” over the entire sky. An unusual display of meteors (Gemi- 
nids) were also seen at both places the same evening. As many as 80 were 
seen, of yarious sizes, by three observers (at Urbino) between 6” 20™ and 
7» 15™. Meteors were also seen on the evenings of the 10th and 18th, 
The general centre of radiation was ascertained by Prof. Lorenzoni to be 
an area included between the points 
R.A. 90°, Decl.+17° 16 a 
to R.A, 102°, Decl. HE bees hie reheat 
This latter place differs somewhat from the centre of radiation for the 
“ Geminids” of this epoch as given in the British Association Meteor-Atlas, 
viz. R.A. 100°, Decl. +33°; most of the meteor-paths recorded were noted 
in the constellation of Gemini. 
III. Captain Tupman, R.M.A., in his valuable catalogue of shooting- 
stars and their radiant-points, lately distributed by this Committee, gives 
no less than 28 distinct subradiant positions connected with the Perseids— 
giving an average position of 45°-5, +56°-1, as nearly as possible the definite 
one observed by Professors Schiaparelli, A. 8. Herschel, Serpieri, and 
Newton ; and it is also clear from Captain Tupman’s observations that the 
duration of the Perseid epoch is nearly a month, or from about July 27th to 
August 25th. That it endured from about the 27th July to the 18th or 20th 
August, Mr, Greg had previously entertained a strong conviction. The 
interesting and important question as to the radiant-area of the Perseid 
shower being only a very diffuse one, or in which direction it is elongated, or 
whether it contains several distinct minor or substreams of meteors and sub- 
radiants, has not yet been determined with certainty. During the past year 
Mr. J. E. Clark undertook the projection on separate maps, for intervals of 
successive five minutes (where the observations were sufficiently numerous), 
of the tracks of upwards of 2000 Perseids described in the volumes of these 
Reports for former years, with a view to discover motions of the radiant- 
