Shooting Stars of January 2

Abstract

THE shower of shooting stars seen by Dr. H. C. Sorby on the morning of January 2, formed evidence of the return of a well-known meteor stream which has its radiant in Bode's modern constellation Quadrans Muralis, about 20° north of Corona, and between Boötes and Draco. The shower seems to have been in pretty strong evidence at its recent return, for Prof. Herschel observed some fine long-pathed meteors from it during the hour preceding midnight on January 1, and Mr. Milligin, of Belfast, writes me that, on the morning of January 2, he recorded twelve of its meteors indicating a radiant in the usual position at 230° + 52°. Though often escaping notice, the January meteor stream sometimes furnishes a really active display, and an observer may count thirty or forty shooting stars in an hour. They are brighter than the average of such objects, and the radiant being low during the greater part of the night, they have very extended flight, which adds to their conspicuous appearance.