Our Astronomical Column

Abstract

THE METEOR SEASON.—Mr. Denning writes:—“There is a special season for many things, and meteors have their more favourable times and periods. Astronomers generally regard the months of August and November as the particular dates when meteors are abundantly displayed. There is substantial ground for this idea. August and November are memorable as having been the months of occasional brilliant exhibitions of meteors in the modern past. In more ancient times July and October were the favoured months by the same meteoric systems, which have slowly advanced in their dates owing to changes in astronomical conditions. To the regular observer the meteoric season may be said to open at about the middle of July, when there occurs a decided increase in the visible number of meteors contemporary with the first oncoming of the Great Perseid shower. We may usually observe twice as many meteors during the last half of July as in the first half. This is not wholly due to the activity of two or three special showers, but is partly attributable to a general increase in meteoric phenomena. July often affords a most agreeable recompense to the observer in supplying plenty of interesting objects, and this is always appreciated after their rarity in preceding months. Thus in June, 1915, at Bristol, only thirty-six meteors were seen in watches of the sky extending over 202 hours, a degree of scarcity which I never remember to have previously experienced. The Perseids ought to be splendidly witnessed this year with suitable weather about August 9-13. The path of the larger meteors should be carefully recorded, also the time when the maximum number of meteors is visible.”