OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 



393 



while an observer near Dublin, Mr. M. H. Close, describes. its position as near 

 I Anclroracdae at R. A. 19°, Decl. + 45° ; and independently of their geo- 

 graphical position, such differences are found among the notes of many ob- 

 servers of the shower. The great majority of the best determinations of its 

 place are, on the other hand, very near the latter place. The accompanying 

 diagram shows the recorded positions, from ninety independent determina- 



E.A. in degrees. 



tions of its place, which are described as definite points among the accounts 

 given by different observers of their observations of the shower. The prin- 

 cipal region comprises a compact group of about thirty-five observations, 

 having their centre or average place at R. A. 25°"1, Decl. -|-42°-9. There are 

 besides many observations of radiant-points on the northern and eastern side of 

 this group (twenty-two observations) in the same ten-degree square of E. A. 

 and Decl. with it, of which the centre is at R. A. 25°- 9, Decl. + 46°- 7, 

 forming an apparent diffuseness of the principal radiant region in that 

 direction. Lastly, the average position of all the outlying radiant-points 

 (thirty-three observations) is at E. A. 23°-0, Decl. -(-45°-3, and the average 

 position of all the ninety observations projected in this map, at E. A. 24°*54, 

 Decl.-|-44°-74, can scarcely be more than half a degree from the general di- 

 rection of these numerously recorded centres of divergence of the shower. 

 The position fixed by Mr. Hind's computation of the radiant-point of par- 

 ticles of Biela's comet had the shower been visible at the comet's last return 

 in 1866 is at E.A. 25°-25, Decl. +42°, not quite 3° southward from the 

 general radiant place, and 1° south of the mean principal or central radiant- 

 point of the shower as found by these observations of its recent great appear- 

 ance in Ifovember 1872. 



The November Meteoric SJwiver in 1872. — The annual appearance of the 

 star-shower on the morning of the 14th of November, 1872, was observed at 

 the Lyceum at Matera, in Piedmont, by Signer Viso Eugenie ; and from the 

 numbers seen, it appears to have been of considerable brightness. The 

 following were the hourly numbers counted. Although the number of the 



