A Field Book of the Stars/Meteoric Showers July to October
METEORIC SHOWERS.
JULY TO OCTOBER.
| Name of Shower | Date | Radiant Point | Characteristics | Other Dates of Observation |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vulpeculids or Eta Sagittids | July 4 | Between Cygnus and Delphinus |
Sw. | June 13–July 7 Apr. 20, May 30 |
E. |
| Cygnids | July 19 | Near Deneb (α) Cygni |
Sh. SW. F. | July 11—19, Aug. 22. July 6—Aug. 16 |
E. |
| (α)—(β) Perseids | July 25 | Between (α) and (β) Persei |
Sw. B, Sk. after 10 p.m. |
July 23–Aug. 4 Sept.15, Nov.13 |
|
| Aquarids, a conspicuous shower |
July 28 | Near the water jar of Aquarius |
Sl. B. | N. E. | |
| Perseids, fine shower | Aug. 10 | Near (α) Persei |
v. Sw. Sk. | E. | |
| Kappa Cygnids | Aug. 17 | Near the Dragon's head |
Sw.B. T. Sh. | Jan. 17, Aug. 4, Aug.21–25 |
S. E. |
| Alpha Aurigids | Aug. 21 | Near Capella (α) Auriga; |
After 9.30 p.m. v. Sw. Sk. |
Sept. 22, Oct. 2 |
N. E. |
| Omicron Draconids. Rich shower in 1879 |
Aug. 22 | Near the Dragon's head |
Sl. T. | Aug. 21–25 | N |
| Epsilon Perseids | Sept. 7 | Between Capella and the Pleiades | After 10 p.m. v. Sw. Sk. |
Aug. 21–25 Sept. 6—8, 21, Nov. 29. |
N. E. |
| Alpha Arietids | Sept. 21 | Near Hamal (α) Arietis |
Sl. T. | Aug. 12, Oct. 7 | E. |
| Gamma Pegasids | Sept. 22 | Near and S. E. of Great Sq. |
Sl. | July 31. Aug 25, etc. |
E. |
The Perseids are of a yellowish color, and move with medium velocity. Their line of flight is from northeast to southwest. They are probably visible for more than a month, from the latter half of July to the last week in August.
The August meteors are known as the "Tears of St. Lawrence."
The Abbreviations under Characteristics are as follows:
- v.—very
- M.—Moderately
- SW.—Swift
- Sl.—Slow
- B.—Bright
- F.—Faint
- Sk.—Streak-leaving meteors.
- T.—Train
- Sh.—Short