Abstract
THE AUGUST PERSEIDS.—Some of the earlier members of this rich annual shower were visible on July 30 and August 2, and, from the numbers seen, it is probable that the return this year will be an unusually abundant one. At Bristol on August 2, during a watch of, the heavens extending over 23/4 hours, forty-one meteors were seen, of which eighteen belonged to the special display of Perseids. Their radiant point was at 38°+55°, and it was not a sharply defined centre, but an area extending over about 7° in diameter. This marked diffusion is rather greater than what is usually observed, for the shower radiant is often rather small and definite. The maximum of the shower may be expected on August 11 and 12, but it is unfortunate that on these dates the moon will be nearly at the full, and will hide a considerable number of the smaller meteors. The Perseids, however, are a shower yielding a large proportion of brilliant meteors, so that even in strong moonlight the event is likely to present a conspicuous aspect.
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Our Astronomical Column . Nature 103, 453 (1919). https://doi.org/10.1038/103453a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/103453a0