174 report — 1877. 



observations, and nineteen showers obtained in a preliminary reduction of 

 the meteors recorded in the Austrian Catalogue (added, with a list of sta- 

 tionary meteors extracted from the latter catalogue, to the above Tables), 

 and among the fifty-two radiant-points contained in Mr. Denning's published 

 catalogue of meteor-showers at the end of this Appendix, seven or eight 

 well-marked positions are also new to any previously existing records of known 

 or suspected meteor-showers. Upwards of 35 new radiant-points have ac- 

 cordingly been added, and at the same time about 100 of the already known 

 200 or 220 general centres of radiation of meteor- showers throughout the 

 year have received from these extensive observations and reductions more or 

 less repeated confirmations. 



Some important deductions from his observations during the fourteen 

 months from April 1876 to May 1877 (inclusive) were also presented by 

 Mr. Denning in a paper on the " Visibility of Shooting-stars," in ' The Ob- 

 servatory ' of July last (vol. i. p. 106), exhibiting the average horary numbers 

 of meteors visible in the different months, and the total number of shooting- 

 stars observed of the different apparent magnitudes or degrees of brightness. 

 Of these magnitudes 1090 were registered during the interval; and of the 

 various brightnesses recorded, from that of Sirius or of the planets (and 

 brighter), and from the first and successive magnitudes of the fixed stars to 

 the fifth, inclusive, there was noted in all the following series of numbers : 

 Sirius, or brighter, 39 ; 65 ; 190 ; 274 ; 337 ; 176 fifth-magnitude meteors. 

 Total number of apparent magnitudes registered, 1090. 



In calculating the horary numbers, both the numbers seen and the lengths 

 of the watches having been regularly noted, one sixth is deducted from the 

 latter times to obtain the times actually spent in observation ; and clear moon- 

 less nights having been generally selected, the numbers found represent very 

 nearly the rates of frequency of the meteors for one observer keeping his 

 gaze constantly directed eastwards to an altitude of about 40° above the 

 horizon. 



Horary Numbers visible in 



P.ii. 



A.M. 



In reference to this summary Mr. Denning writes : — " Consulting the 

 Table it will bo seen that shooting-stars were especially numerous in the 

 mornings of October, November, and December, and very rare in the evenings 

 of January and February. The frequency of the Perseids in August will 

 account for the large hourly proportion a.m. (17'2) in that month ; but I 

 have not excluded them from the list, as they have a trivial influence on the 

 total results. I found that as a rule the rate of frequency is at a minimum 

 soon after dark, and at a maximum just preceding dawn, the relative horary 

 numbers being about 6-7 for the former and 12 for the latter period. In 

 fact, as the night advances the numbers go on increasing ; and I suppose 

 this would theoretically be the case considering the improving position 

 taken up by the apex of the earth's way during the successive hours of the 

 night," 



The position of the apex of the earth's way in the sky is about 90° east- 

 wards along the ecliptic from that point of the ecliptic which is opposite to 

 the sun, or which is on the meridian at midnight. It therefore rises nearly 



