The Observation of Meteors, with Especial Reference to the Leonids

Abstract

DURING the next few years a large amount of attention will be given to meteoric astronomy in general and to the great shower of Leonids in particular. The present may, therefore, be an appropriate time to refer to a few points connected with this interesting branch. It has often occurred to the writer that it would greatly facilitate the comparison of different materials if observers adopted one uniform method of recording meteor-flights. Some merely give estimated compass bearings, and a rough guess at the altitude and inclination of path, others give the place and direction according to conspicuous stars near, others simply mark the courses on a map without reading off the individual positions, while others give the R.A. and Decl. of both beginning and ending of every object observed. It would be a great advantage if every one tabulated results according to the latter method. It can easily be done if the tracks, as observed, are pencilled upon a celestial globe or star chart, and the positions read off; and this is a much more exact method than describing the flights by stars near which they happen to pass.