(meteorobs) meteorobs (meteor) For "New World" Observers 1799

drobnock drobnock at penn.com
Wed Jun 19 10:37:16 EDT 2013


Hi
Thanks for the clarification. When I read the brief I was uncertain of the dates presented.
Thanks Again.
George John Drobnock

bob wrote:

> George - Thanks for that information, but I believe that the source information is flawed because A.E. Douglas was born on July 5, 1867 and could not have made an observation in 1799.
>
> His namesake, his paternal great-grandfather, lived from 1754 to 1820 and was perhaps the one that made the observation in 1799.
>
> I have a biography of Andrew Ellicott Douglas, "Tree Rings and Telescopes", which is a very good read and may be available at your local library, or if not, it can be purchased used for around $15.
>
> ******************************************
>
> --- In meteorobs at yahoogroups.com, drobnock <drobnock at ...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> > The report is suggesting the first recorded meteor shower observed and
> > recorded in the North America is credited to Andrew Ellicott Douglass,
> > an early American astronomer born in Vermont.
> >
> >
> > Nov 12, 1799:
> > First meteor shower on record
> >
> > Andrew Ellicott Douglass, an early American astronomer born in Vermont,
> > witnesses the Leonids meteor shower from a ship off the Florida Keys.
> > Douglass, who later became an assistant to the famous astronomer
> > Percival Lowell, wrote in his journal that the "whole heaven appeared as
> > if illuminated with sky rockets, flying in an infinity of directions,
> > and I was in constant expectation of some of them falling on the vessel.
> > They continued until put out by the light of the sun after day break."
> > Douglass' journal entry is the first known record of a meteor shower in
> > North America.
> > (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-meteor-shower-on-record)
> >
> > George John Drobnock
> >
> > The Leonids meteor shower is an annual event that is greatly enhanced
> > every 33 years or so by the appearance of the comet Tempel-Tuttle. When
> > the comet returns, the Leonids can produce rates of up to several
> > thousand meteors per hour that can light up the sky on a clear night.
> > Douglass witnessed one such manifestation of the Leonids shower, and the
> > subsequent return of the comet Tempel-Tuttle in 1833 is credited as
> > inspiring the first organized study of meteor astronomy.
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > meteorobs at ...
> > http://lists.meteorobs.org/mailman/listinfo/meteorobs
> >




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