370 Meteo7'ic Shower of November^ 1838. 



By a letter from Professor Fitch, dated from the Gulf of Mexico, 

 I learn that he watched for shooting stars on the morning of the 

 13th- November, but considered the number and size of such as 

 fell, as not above the average in that latitude. On the morning 

 of the 14th, from 3 to 4, he counted 40 shooting stars ; and from 

 4 to 5, he counted 45. He thinks the number obscured by 

 clouds probably one fourth of the whole. The point of radiation 

 was 2° E. S. E. of gamma Leonis. It will be seen that these state- 

 ments agree remarkably well with those of Professor Twining, al- 

 though probably the numbers reported by Mr. Fitch ought to be 

 considerably increased, in consequence of there being at that 

 station but a single observer. 



The unusual frequency of the meteors seen on this occasion ; 

 the precision with which they conformed in their courses to what 

 has heretofore been observed at the same date ; the occasional 

 brilliancy of individual meteors; the number and brightness of 

 the attendant trains ; and the time of the morning when the 

 display reached its maximum ; these circumstances afford, in con- 

 nexion, conclusive evidence of the identity of this exhibition with 

 those heretofore observed on this anniversary, although, according 

 to anticipations expressed several times in this Journal, the phe- 

 nomenon is repeated on a constantly diminishing scale. 



As several of the most eminent astronomers of Europe, are now 

 occupying themselves with the "Theory of Shooting Stars," 

 (which some of our own astronomers have supposed beneath their 

 attention,) we may hope that, before long, the difficulties which 

 attend the explanation of the " origin of shooting stars" will be 

 completely removed, and we shall know whether to regard them 

 as atmospheric concretions, or as visitants from another sphere. 



P. S. — Extract of a Letter from Mr. Willis Gkylq-rb, dated Otisco, New York, 

 JYov. 22, 1838. — A brilliant flight of meteors "was seen from this place on the 

 morning of the 14th instant. The nights of the 12th and 13th were cloud}', ren- 

 dering observation impracticable. My attention was called to the frequent occur- 

 rence of meteors a few minutes before 6 o'clock; and from that time until the 

 moon and the opening day caused their disappearance, there was an almost contin- 

 ued succession of them. I have never, at any time, seen so many, in so small a 

 space of time, except in the great meteoric shower of November, a few years since. 

 The point of radiation was a few degrees S. E. of the zenith, and every meteor had 

 the same direction, viz. southeast. The trains of some were brilliant, but in ger- 

 eral they disappeared quickly, though some continued their flight across a quarter 

 of the heavens. 



