The Meteoric Shower of December

Abstract

THE weather proved very unfavourable for observation during the first half of December this year, and I watched for a return of these meteors on three nights only, viz. the 6th, 8th, and 9th. The temperature was unusually high for the period, the mean being 49.5°, and about 9° in excess of the average. Few Geminids were recorded on December 6, but on December 8 and 9, between 13h. and 15h., they were more numerous, and the place of the radiant admitted of accurate determination. There seems no question that the position moves to the eastward, with the time, similarly to the Lyrid and Perseid radiants. From observations obtained at Bristol in recent years the Geminid centre came out as follows:—