Abstract
THE AUGUST METEORS.—Mr. W. F. Denning writes:— “This annual shower returns to a maximum on about August n, and the circumstances are rather favourable this year, the moon being near her first quarter and setting at nh. igm. G.M.T. There is no reason to expect an unusually abundant display, but it will be sure to provide an interesting shower of bright, streaking meteors. The larger objects should be carefully recorded, so that their real paths may be computed. The position of the radiant point and its change of place ought to be determined on each night when the atmosphere is clear enough for the purpose, for the shower is already fairly rich at the end of July, and is well maintained until the middle of August. This date, however, does not limit its duration, for occasional meteors are seen towards the end of the month. The morning hours are usually best, for the radiant is at a greater altitude after midnight than at an earlier period. Though this system of meteors has been sedulously observed during a great number of years, there is still much to be learnt concerning its annual variations, date of maximum, changes in the position and character of the radiant point, and in the relative strength of the numerous contemporary showers which are visible.”
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Our Astronomical Column. Nature 107, 694 (1921). https://doi.org/10.1038/107694a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/107694a0