ASTRONOMY: C. P. OLIVIER 
373 
to deduce 139 radiants of sufficient accuracy to calculate parabolic 
orbits for the meteor streams they represent. These orbits are contained 
in full in one of the tables. Following this is a table containing 81 less 
certain, but probably existant radiants, for which as yet no orbits are 
calculated. Other tables contain analyzed data of the distribution of 
meteors as to magnitudes and average durations of their times of visi- 
biHty. There is also a table containing a few real heights, which were 
obtained in August, 1915, between Richmond, Va., University of Vir- 
ginia, and Washington, D. C. This latter work we hope to repeat, on a 
larger scale and under better conditions, during the summer of 1916. 
The text of the publication contains details as to the organization, plans 
and methods of reduction of the work. It further contains full expla- 
nations as to the derivation and use of the figures found in the tables. 
Actual directions to the members were omitted since these had been 
printed at great length both in Popular Astronomy and also in Bulle- 
tins 2-5 of the Meteor Society, which were distributed to all members and 
applicants. 
The present publication and the two similar ones previously prepared 
by me will bring up the number of results to 440 parabolic orbits of meteor 
streams, based on about 14,000 meteors. The peculiar value of this 
contribution lies in the fact that a fairly uniform plan has been followed 
by all the observers, and that the results were computed and deduced 
by one person using the methods and care with which other astronomical 
work is handled in all regular observatories. 
It may be of interest to mention the various methods used to reach 
amateurs who might care to join in the work. At the very organiza- 
tion of this society, the cooperation of the members of the Meteor 
Section of the Society for Practical Astronomy was secured by the 
appointment of the writer as director of the latter. Then last spring 
a number of articles were published by Dr. S. A. Mitchell and myself 
calling attention to the desirability of cooperation on the part of all 
amateurs. These articles appeared in the Scientific American, Journal 
of the Royal Astronomical Society o] Canada, and Popular Astronomy; 
by reprinting them in part or in whole, the press of the country assisted 
in bringing our work to the notice of amateur observers and, as a re- 
sult, wide pubHcity was secured. Not less than 200 people have written 
letters on the subject to date, over half desiring to join in making obser- 
vations. It goes without saying that many have never been heard from 
again, but so many have worked with real enthusiasm and success, 
that it would seem that the future of meteoric astronomy is brighter 
at the present time than ever before, so far as America is concerned. 
