FROM THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA SECOND SERIES--1896-97 VOLUME II SECTION III MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES. THE DISTRIBUTION OF AEROLITES IN SPACE By ARTHUR HARVEY FOR SALE BY JOHN DURIE & SON, OTTAWA ; THE COPP-CLARK CO., TORONTO BERNARD QUARITCH, LONDON, ENGLAND i8g6 Section III., 1896. [ 91 ] ; y ? * Trans. R. S. G ■; A , YIL—The Distribution of Aerolites in Space. .-., '^i By Arthur Harvey. ' (Read May 20, 1896.) ' The periodicity of swarms of shooting stars 's now generally admitted. The great fall of the 11th and 12th November, 1799, was described by Humboldt and Bonpland, who were in South America and found that a similar display had been seen on the same days, thirty-throe years before. In 1831, 1H32 and 1883, at the same period of the year, there was an abundance of these meteors, and Arago was induced to write, in 1835, that "there exists a zone composed of millions of small bodies whose orbit cuts " the plane of the ecliptic at about the point which our earth annually " occupies between the 11th and 13th of November. A new planetary-world "is beginning to be revealed." Olbers investigated the subject and found the period of revolution of these meteorites to be a little over thirty-three years, while the most numerous aggregation in the orbit was that through wuich the earth had passed in 176b, 1799 and 1832, and he predicted a line display for 1866. A brilliant shower was noted on the 13th and 14th November of that year, especially in England, and we may reasonably expect another in 1899. We see some of this swarm every year, but its orbit is not packed with equal thickness in all parts, and the numbers therefore vary. Necessarily, however, they seem to come from the same radiant point in the heavens, and as this is near y Leonis, they are called Leonids. Many other swarms are now recognized as periodical, each having its separate radiant and its special days, each as the Geminids from 6-12 December, the Lyrids from 20-26 April, the Perseids about the 10th of August. It was perceived about thirty years ago that the orbit of the Leonids is closely related to that of Tempel's comet, seen in 1866. A swarm on November 27th has the same elements as Biela's comet. The Perseids' orbit agrees with that of the bright comet 1862 III. The new astronomy therefore holds that there is an intimate connection between comets and shooting stars, and it is thought that through some repulsiv'^e action, which is most violent near perihelion, the loosely aggregated materials of comets get scattei-ed into a long trail, if not into a complete ring. The incandescence of these materials, by friction in our atmosphere, when the earth in its revolution swoops through their path, is thought to give rise to the phenomenon of shooting stars. Professor Newton, of Yale, calculates at seven and a half millions the number that daily fall, and the same astronomer has made another in- 92 ■■'^' ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA teresting calculation based on the Bielitls observed at Beyrout, Marseilles, and Montcalieri, in 1885. The number seen was some 75,000 an hour, and during that display the earth travelled 100,000 miles. This then was a very rich part of that meteor-stream. Even there, the calculation goes on to prove, and it is easy to repeat and check it, the meteors were on an average 20 miles apart. Shooting stars are, however, like others — many more can be seen with a telescope than without one — and it would in the present state of our knowledge be rash to fix a limit to their number, and though their bulk is very small, it is enough to form an important part of the material lying on the deep sea bottom, far from shore, and has been estimated to add 100 tons a day to the weight of the earth. The material found is a mere dust of iron oxide. They do not differ from one another in size alone. Some move much more rapidly than others, some have longer or broader trails, some trails appear to last longer, and they differ in colour too. In short, with a little expei'ience, one may tell an Andromede from a Perseid, Leonid or Lyrid. without reference to its ladiant. It may be here mentioned that the writer, availing himself of a Barton electric furnace, placed at his disposal, applied the intense heat of the electric arc to the surface of several kinds of minerals — chiefly quartz and spar containing particles of various metallic ores. They became incan- descent in a flash ; numerous fragments splintered off at a white heat, showing how trails are formed and how their colours vary, also how the " crust " on meteorites is formed. The wonder is how any meteore can reach the earth except as cosmic dust. The present writer, observing shooting stare in 1893, was surprised to find Perseids in July, continuing well into September. In 1894 they were fairly abundant during the last week in July, while on their special day they were very sparse. A similar observation was being made at Pultava, and it stands to reason that the ring, if formed from the materials of comets, must be enormously diffuse. The tails of these bodies are seen to flicker—to emit streams in several directions. There must be successive emissions, perhaps several at each perihelion j)assage, and the planets affect them and cause a direct motion of their perihelia and of the perihelia of their swarm rings. If we were to reduce the orbits of the various Peraeids we encounter to one set of co-ordinates and place the eye at the nodal region, we should see their paths, diverging like brushes of rays, to cover an enormous extent in space. Prof. Newton says the disintegrating force must be in the plane of the earth's orbit, but it seerps to the writer that if it emanates from the sun, the earth does not at all control it — the materials would be thrown from the comet in the shape of a cone, whose apex is at the comet and whose base is enormously expanded. How full space now begins to seem ; not an [A. harvby] the distribution OF AEROLITES IN SPACE 93 empty void in which seven or eight planets pursue their solitaiy circlings, but a plenum, with numberless streams of matter circulating through it, each composed of countless bodies of all sizes. It takes the earth cbse upon two months to go through that part of its orbit crossed by the dis- integrated particles of comet 1862 III. : » These paragraphs lead to the proper consideration of the present . inquiry— whether there is a periodicity among aerolites, and whether • aerolites are connected with shooting stars and recognized comets. Many writers assume that bolides, aerolites and shooting stars are identical. The writer has come to believe that aerolites are not all the discards of comets, but rather small comets themselves. To arrive at a e-onclusion on this point, 357 have been classified according to the days they fell, and it would be difficult to distribute the supply more evenly throughout the months or the days of the year. January comes a little short, while May IS unusually well supplied, but there seems no special reason for attaching weight to the differences, which are doubtless accidental. The whole list is appended, but the summary by months is sufficient to prove this statement : J^»»*^»T 24 May 42 September 31 February........ 28 June 31 October 28 ^arch 28 July 26 November 29 ^P"^ 29 August 29 December 32 Total 357 The next classification made refers to the houre of their fall. This important detail is not given in half the cases, but we find for these Between (j a.m. and 6 p.m 127 " 6 p.m. and 6 a.m 3*7 164 The reason for the difference is worth inquiring into, and it is to be hoped that the importance of the subject to the study of physical astronomy will cause more careful records to be kept of all nocturnal bolides as well as of diurnal aerolites. It is evident that as a general rule aerolites which strike us in the day time are on their way from the sun— these which fall at night on their way to it. If they were flying directly to or from it, they would be most numerous at about noon or at about midnight, for at other hours, ' equal areas on the earth's surface are obliquely inclined to the sun and ; present a smaller target to such missiles. But they are affected by the attraction of the earth, and their paths become bent, generally so as to follow the earth in its course. Their velocity, wo must remember, is enormous. A recent committee of the British Association reports that 94 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA " firo balls appear at a height of between 20 and 130 miles and have a " velocity of between 17 and SO miles per second, averaging 344 miles per " second." The earth travels in its orbit 183 miles per second. Gravity, from the furthest confines of the sun's power, would only account for half the velocity of the average meteor, so their proper motion may be from 30 to 40 miles per second in some cases, while in others it may be much less. We should therefore expect that the following of the earth would be very noticeable — that most diurnal meteorites would fall in the afternoon and most nocturnal ones after midnight. We find the table confirm this reasoning for the day observations, not for the others, but the numbers .tabulated are scarcely enough to form a fair average, even in the former case. The table is given to show how much there is yet to do, and the work, which is difficult at a provincial centre, is easier where works of reference are more accessible. Aerolites Falling. From midnight to 1 a.ni From 11 p.m. to midnight 1 11 1 " 3 " 9 " " 10 2 9 8 8 5 7 8 () 11 5 18 4.... 23 3 6 2 11 1 16 , 164 We may further arrange them thus : Falling from midnight to G a.m 12 " " 6 a.m. to noon 42 > , - " noon to 6 p.m 85 t 6 p.m. to midnight 25 ,v ' " j (( 1 a.m. " 2 II 2 S( " 3 (I 3 l( " 4 (1 4 ;( " 5 l( 6 a " 6 II 6 ii u Y II 1 11 " 8 I( 8 a " 9 (1 9 It " 10 l( 10 u " 11 a 11 II noon (I u i< 10 3 u 9 ;( 8 (( 7 7 u 6 5 i( 5 7 (( 4 7 a 3 7 i( 2 8 u 1 '• 8 11 noon 11 It II I: There is but one case known to the author of a meteorite falling during a display of shooting stars, viz., a stone that fell at Mazapil, Mexico, during a shower of Bielids. This was perhaps a coincidence, and is so considered by Stanislas Meunier, of the Paris Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, in a paper sent to the Scientific Society of Chili, on Chili meteorites. It is of interest to note the analogy between recently observed comets and some aerolites. The comets the writer has observed seem •' a tireball surpa,ssing the moon in , " apparent size, followed by a great number of smaller meteors, certainly " 100 of them, many of which were larger than Venus or Jupiter " One fell and was found near Bloomington, O., others may have fallen too. but the majority sailed away across Lake Brie " like a flock of wild '' geese, * * * moving with about the same velocity and grace of " regularity." Such were the thousands that fell at Winnebago Minn ' and very many othei-s. These bodies were probably too small to be ■ emitting light of themselves (such light in the case of visible comets being perhaps due to heat caused by the clashing of their parts 'n concentration or in frequent collisions) or if luminous, too small to attract the attention of a comet seeker, but they nevertheless seem to have been small comets, whose career of growth or of disintegration was suddenly cut short by collision with our planet. A careful inspection of the table shows that in at least three cases • two aerolites have fallen on the same day in places widely separated. Where they ftill only a few miles apart, they may perhaps have been parts V of one body, and the explosion may have caused the separation, also a ; change in the direction of flight, which the resistance of the air, acting on the changed shape of the missiles, may have increased. These reasons, however, do not account for such distances as between the two which ; fell on May 26th, 1826-one near Ajen in France, the other, near Bca- ■ tenneslaw in Russia-or the two of May 13th, 1895, one at Moestel Pank Isle of Oesel, in the Baltic, the other at Gnarrenburg, Hanover. From ; the similarity of the analysis of some siderites that have been found in the United States, at considerable distances apart, Mr. (i. F. Kunz has already inferred that they may have been parts of the same meteorite ! which was broken up after entering the air. My table gives strength to .;; that inference and leads much farther. When it is completed as to the past and has received the additions of another generation, it will perhaps be seen that aerolites do not always fly in single file or in closely packed 96 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA clusters, but that there arc doubles and triples and double clusters, too, among thetn as well aa among the stars, their relatives. Those which the little earth thus intercepts can, however, be both a small portion of the whole. All the other planets must receive their share, and the sun himself yet more. Perhaps almost all that are by the plan- ets (which ur Nyagong " 1628 ' ..Berkshire England 1841 Eilleter Tyrone Ireland 1802 Toulouse France 1818 Volhj .lU Russia 1715 Schellin Prussia Germany 1812 Toulouse France 1864 Nerft Courland Russia 1812 Erzleben Prussia Germany 1857 Kaba Austria-Hungary 1021 ... Lahore India 1851 Giittersloh Prussia Germany 1838 Akburpur India 1895 Niagara Falls i New York U.S.A 1808... 1 Borgo S. Donino Parma Italy 1876 j Rowton Shropshire England 1875 ' Nageria India Hour. 5.00 p.m. 1803 1842. 1840. 1877. 1844. 1873. L'Aigle Normandy France Pusinsko-Selo Croatia Austria-Hungary Karukol '' Russia Lulea Sweden Killeter '■' Tj'rone Ireland Romb Italy 4.00 p.m. 1.30 p.m. 4.45 a.m. 4.00 p.m, 10. 3o p.m. 8.00 p.m. 2.00 a.m. 12.00 m. 3.15 p.m. 1.00 p.m. 3.00 p.m. 12.00 m. 3..30 p.m. ^ Lighted up the whole sky. Not seen to fall. ^ Given elsewhere as of 0th May, 1880. Perliaps difference between old style and new style accounts for lifference. " PoSbibly wrong, see April 9th, suprcu [A. haevey] the distribution OF AEROLITES IN SPACE 101 List op Aerolites, Classified by the Date of their Fall. May. I, 2, 5, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14, 14, 15, 17, 17, 17, 17, 18, 19, 19, 19, 20, 20, 20, 21, 21, 21, 21, 22, 23, 23, 24, 2«, 20, 27, 30, 30, 42 I860.. 1890.. 1869.. 1618.. 1829 . 1846.. 1872.. 1827.. 1879.. 1874.. 1861 . 1855.. 1855.. 1861.. 1801 . . 1864.. 1874.. 1874.. 1830 . 1855.. 1877.. 1879.. 1860 . 1826.. 1826 . 1858.. 1848.. 1874.. 1884.. 1871. 1808.. 1867.. 1868 . 1865. 1869 1892. 1751. 1803. 1866 1866. 1887. Place of Fall. New Concord Ohio U. S. A Winnebago Iowa " Kriihenberg Bavaria Germany Paris France Forsvth .Georgia U. S. A Monte Mllone Italy Dyalpur .• Oude India Nashville Tennessee U. S. A Estherville Iowa " Sevrukoro ' Koursk Russia "Gootka India Moestel Pank - I. of Oesel Russia Gnarrenburg Hanover Germany Poitiers France Canellas Spain.. Orgueil France. . . Nash Co N. Carolina U. S. A Harbour Grace ■' Newfoundland . . . Perth Scotland Igust Livonia Russia. Heugei Hesse Germany Gnadenfrei Silesia " London * England Galapian ^ Ajen France Paulograd Ecaterinoslaw Russia Kekova Austria-Hungarj- Castine Maine U. S. A Virba Widdin Turkey Tysne Bergen l<«'orway Searsmont " Maine U. S. A Stannern Moravia Austria Sommer Co U. S. A Sloavetic Agram Austria-Hungary Kernouve Morblhan France , Gopalpur .lessore India Clarac Morbihan France , Cross Roads N. Carolina U. S. A Hradshina Croatia Austria-Hungary Beaver Creek B. Columbia Canada Pokra Bustee India St. Mesmin ^ Troyes France Powder Mill Creek . .Tennessee U. S. A Hour. 12.45 p.ni' 6.30 p.m. 8.30 p.m. 9.30 a.m. 4.00 p.m. 5.00 p.m. 11.45 p.m. 3 30 p.m. 5.00 p.m. 1.00 p.m. 8.00 p.m. 2.30 p.m. 4.00 p.m. 8.00 a.m, 4.15 a.m. 8.15 a.m. 6.00 a.m. 10.30 a.m. 10.00 p.m. 6.00 p.m. 5.00 a.m. 6.00 p.m. ' Given by Meunier as of the 12th May, 187.5. - Probably connected with the same group as the next. •' Seen and heard- not found. * Seen— not found. '^ Probably the same fall or collection as the next. - " Given by Meunier as at Slst inst. * '' Probably the same as given at ;*)th March. 102 List of ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA Aerolites, Classified by the Date of their Fall. June. 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 0, 7, 7, 9, 9, 11 12, 12, 12, 13, 13, 15, 16, 16, 1' 10, 19, 22, 25, 25, 26, 28, 28, 28, 20, 30, 31 1843. .. 186;i.... 1822. . . . 1828.... 1842 ... 1838.... 1855.... 187 Seen over New York and the Central States. •• Seen, heard, figured and described, not found. 104 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA List of Aeromtes, Classified by the Date of their Fall. August. 1, 1835... 1, 1879.... 1, 1862... 2, 1882.... 4, 1835 ... 5, 1812.... 5, 1856.... 5, 1855.... 7, 1823... 7, 1822.... 8, 1863... 10, 1818 . 10, 1863... 10, 1885... 11, 1859... 11, 186:^... 12, 1865.. 13, 1852 .. 14, 1829... 14, 1846... 16, 1875... 18, 1783... 18, 1870... 20, 18C4 .. 25, 1865... 26, 1865.. 29, 1892.. 30, 1887.. 31, 1802.. Place of Fall. U.S. A.... Argentina., , France — Russia ..Spain.. . ...U.S. A, Hour. 4.30 p.m. 4.30 p.m. 2.00 a.m. 3.30 p.m. 4.30 p.m. 12.30 p.m. Charlotte Tennessee. Nagaya Morlans Paulovka Cirencester ^"g'^"^ Chantonnay Vendue France. Oviedo Petersburg Tennessee Nobleboro' Maine Radanah Agra India • Pillitsfer Livonia Russia Smolensk Putney> England ' Grozac. France Bethlehem New York U. S. A Shytal Dacca India t Dundrum Iceland :7.00 p.m. Sidmouth England !...., Deal N. Jersey U. S. A... Cape Girardeau Missouri " •• Feid-chair La Calle Algeria . . Europe •^ . Cahezzo de Mayo. . . .Murcia Spain .. . Phalerum Greece... Umjhiawar Beliar India.... Aumale Algeria.. Bath Dakota U.S. A.. Taborg Perm Russia. . . Orvinio Rone Italy .... 11.30 p.m. 3.00 p.m. 12.00 m. 9.00 a.m. 11.00 a.m. 4.00 p.m. !S.lo a.m. 1 Seen— not found. 2 Throughout northwestern Europe-1,000 miles of a course. [a. hahvey] the distribution of aerolites in space 103 List of Aerolites, Classified by the Date of their Fall. September 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, !», 10. 10, 13, 1*3, 13, 14, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22, 22, 22, 23, 24, 20, 20, 31 1808. 1852. 1857 1814. 1854. 1878. I75:i. 18()5. 1868. 1829 18;«. 1813. 1825. 1768. 1822. 1858. 1511. 1825. 1814. 1843. 1809. 1670. 1885. 1887. 1851. 1873 1893 1873. 1884. 1873. 1885. Place of Fall. •6:M p.m. 430 p.m. 12.(K) 111. 1.00 p.m. Li/za Bohemia Austria-Hungary Mezo Madares Tran.sylvania " " Krasnoslobodsl{ Russia Agen P'rance Lenum Prussia Germany Dandapur Gorulcpur India Liponas ' Ain France Muddoor India Sanguis St. Etienne . B. Pyrenees France . Krasnoj Ugal Russia Znorow Moravia Austria-Hungary Liniericlv Ireland l..\ancourt France Luce Sartlie " La Ba/Fe, Epinai V'o.sges " Renne " I Crema Italy ' I Honolulu Sandwich Ids 10.30 a.m. I Elsaterincslaw Russia 12.00 in. Kleinwarden Prussia Germany i 4.30 p.m. Hour. 2.30 ii.m. 2.00 p.m. 3.:J0 p.m. G.Oi) a.m. i.m p.m. 7.00 a.m. Tjabe Pandanjau Java England'^i Muddoor Mysore India Phu-Hi-ng Binlichank .Cocliin China. London England Novt^o Urei ■' Penza Russia Zabrodje Wilna " Khaipur Moultan India Mont de Mar.san France Santa Barbara Brazil Washington Co ^ Pennsylvania U. S. A 9.00 p.m. 7.00 a.m. • Given by Meunier as of the 8i h . '■i Seen throughout the midland counties. , ■' This is the aerolite in which diamonds were found. * Heard and seen, not found. Sec. III., 1896. 8. JQ6 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA ; - v List of Aerolites, Classified by the Date of their Fall. October. I, 3, a, 3, 3. 4, 5, 5, «, 0, 7, 8, 10, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 21, 25, 29, 30, 31, 31, 28 1««.. 1815.. 1819. . 1865.. 1883.. 1857 . ia52.. 1800.. 1827.. 1809. 1861.. 180;^.. ia57.. 1838.. 1787.. 1819 . 1852.. 1877.. 1824.. 1S54.. 1863.. 1844.. 1876 . 1859. 1883.. 1872. 1849. Place of Fall. Hour. Lodran Moultan India ChassiKny France Politz Gera Reuss Germany Moffat Scotland Ngawe Java DeHOrmea ' Yonne France Namur Belgium Jamkeir Ahmednuggur — India Bialystock Poland Lumpkin Georgia U. S. A Klein Menow Mecklenliurg Germany Saurette France Ohaba Transylvania Austria-Hungary Tulbagh Kokl Bokkeveid. . .C. of Good Hope Kharkov Russia Politz Germany Burkut Hungary Austria-Hungary Sarbanovic - Servia Zabruk Bohemia Austria-Hungary Toberg Germany Athens :• Greece Favars France Rochester Indiana U. S. A England •* Presigne France Ngawrie Java Orvinio Rome Italy Monroe N. Carolina U. S. A 8.00 a.m. 9.80 a.m. . 11.45 a.m. 1.30 p.m. 10.00 a.m. 12 m. !>.00 a.m.. 3.00 p.m. 8.00 a.m. 3.00 p.m. 2.00 p.m. 8.00 a.m. 0.45 a.m. 8.45 p.m. 3.00 p.m. 1 Meunier gives this date, ehsewhere stated as the Ist. '^ Meunier gives same date in 1872. 3 Am. Journ. of Science gives 18th. : ^ < Seen over all England. [A. HARVBY] THE DISTRIBUTION OF AEROLITES IN SPACE List op Aeromtks, Classified by thb Date of their Fall 107 November. Place of Fall. 2, ism ... 4, 1870.. . 5, 18L ... «, 1878... . 10, 188«.... 12, 1856... 12, 184;!.. 13, IKJS 14, 182ii 15, 1860... . 16, 1492 17, 1887 17, 1793 ... 19, 1881 19, 1856 20, 1768 2ii, 1810 24, 1804 25, 1833 25, 18.57 26, 1758. .. 26, 1846 26, 1874.... 27, 1627.... 27, 1824.... 27, 1868 ... 27, 1886.... 30, 1822. . 30, 1850... Hour. 5.30 p.m. .5.00 a.m. Maceo' R. del Norte Brazil Kalumba Salhara India Nulles ^P"*'" Rakafka Tula Russia Malme , ^^P"^" Trenzana Lombardy Italy | 4.00 p.m. . Verkne Tschirskaya Russia France Scotland. ... U.S. A Belmont . . Leith Denisville. Enai»heim .N. Jersey. Alsace Germany . Ireland*.. Gigina SP'^''^- • Gross Lieben Thai . . . Odessa Russia . . . , Trenzano Brescia Italy Mauerkirchen Bavaria Germany. Charsonville...' France... St. Louis Potosi Mexico.. Briinn Blanko 12.30 p.m. 12.30 a.m. 6.30 a.m. .Moravia Austria-Hungary 4.00 p.m. 1.30 p.m. 0.;i0 p.m. Scotland •' . Schiinenberg Bavaria Germany . . Kerilis • • Cotes du Nord France . . . . Mont Vaisins Prague Bohemia Danville Alabama U. S. A. . . . Dhulia Kandeish India Allahabad Shalka Bengal " 2.45 p.m. 10.30 a.m. 5.00 a.m. 6.00 p.m. 6.00 p.m. 4.30 p.m. 1 Given as the 8th in one account. 2 The whole of Ireland. 3 AH the North of Scotland. 108 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA LrsT OK Akkolites, Classified by the Date ok their Fall. December. l»liice of Fall, 1, 1H25 Berlin . . Prussia Germany 2. lHo2 Hustee' India "), \M2 Kpinal France . . 5, IHfla EaNt of England and Scotland 5, 18(i8 Franltfort Alabama U.S.A... \i, 186() Canga.s (le Onis Sflntander Spain 7, 18611 Touraine laOrosse . .Louvain Belgium. ^, 1861 Mi