METEORIC SHOWERS.
JANUARY TO APRIL.
| Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point | Characteristics | Other Dates
of
Observation | Location |
Quadrantids.
Rich annual
shower | Jan. 2 | (44) Boötis,
between Boötes and
Dragon's head | M. Sw. B. | Jan 3. | E. |
| Zeta Cancrids | Jan. 2-4 | (ζ) Cancri,
near Bee Hive | | | E. |
| Theta Ursids | Jan. 5 | About 10° from β
away from γ
Ursæ Maj. | Small
Sh. Sw. F. | Jan. 2-8 | N. |
| Alpha Draconids | Feb. 1 | Near Thuban
α Draconis | Sl. | Jan. 9
Dec. 8 | N. |
| Alpha Aurigids | Feb. 7 | Near Capella
α Aurigæ | Sl. | Aug. 21
Sept. 12-22 | High in
Southern
Sky |
| Tau Leonids | Feb. 16 | τ Leonis,
between Leo
and Crater | Sl. Sk. | Nov. 27
Dec. 12
Mar. 1-4 | E. |
Alpha Canum
Ven. Well
defined 1877 | Feb. 20 | Near Cor Caroli
and Coma
Berenices | V. Sw. B. | | E. |
| α-β Perseids | Mar. 1 | Between α
and β Persei | V. Sl. | July—Dec.
Mar. 13-19 | N.W. |
Beta Leonids or
Beta Virginids | Mar. 14 | Near Denebola
β Leonis | Sl. B. | Mar. 3, 4
Dec. 12 | S.E. |
| Kappa Cepheids | Mar. 18 | Near Polaris | Sl. B. | Oct. 4-17
Mar. 13-19 | N. |
| Beta Ursids | Mar. 24 | Near β
Ursæ Maj. | Sw. | Apr. 10-16
Mar. 13-14
Dec. 2-9
Precise | N. |
| Zeta Draconids | Mar. 28 | Near the
Dragon's Head | Sl. | July 29
Aug. 24, etc. | N. |
The Abbreviations under Characteristics are as follows:
| V. | Very | Sh. | Short |
| M. | Moderately | B. | Bright |
| Sw. | Swift | F. | Faint |
| Sl. | Slow | Sk. | Streak leaving meteors |
| T. | Train leaving meteors |
If you know the constellations, and memorize the following rhyme you
will have ever at hand for reference at night, a reliable time-piece,
a compass, and a perpetual calendar.
The numbers above the star names indicate consecutively the months of
the year in which these respective objects rise about the first
instant in the eastern sky. In addition to first-magnitude stars the
rhyme refers to the head of Capricornus, the Sea Goat, the Great
Square of Pegasus, and Orion's Belt. All except Arcturus rise between
9 and 9.30 p.m. Arcturus rises at 10 p.m., February 1st.
| 1 |
| First | Regulus | gleams | on | the | view, |
| 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Arcturus, | Spica, | Vega, | blue, |
| 5 | | 6 |
| Antares, | and | Altair, |
| 7 | | 8 | | 9 |
| The | Goat's | head, | Square, | and | Fomalhaut, |
| 10 | | 11 |
| Aldebaran, | the | Belt, | a-glow, |
| 12 |
| Then | Sirius | most | fair. |
Eight months of the year are identified by the position of the Dipper
at 9 p.m. In April and May it is north of the zenith. During July and
August it is west of north. In October and November it lies close to
the northern horizon and in January and February it is east of north
with the pointers highest.
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