The Falling Stars

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 30, 1866

The Falling Stars.

ANOTHER DISPLAY EXPECTED NOV. 13 AND 14, 1866.

The following articles respecting meteoric showers, like that of 1833, have been sent in to us by different correspondents the past week. The question is asked by one, if these showers are periodic, as the speculations of astronomers now assume, and have been of frequent occurrence, how can we take the one of 1833 as a fulfillment of prophecy? We answer that the prophecy locates the falling of the stars which was to be a sign of the coming of the Son of man, down this side of the great papal persecution: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days,” &c. Matt. xxiv.

And it seems to be a fact that no display of this kind of any note took place previous to the year 1799, which is this side of the time specified in the prophecy. But the display of 1833 is acknowledged on all hands to have been the most notable scene of the kind that has ever occurred, and may therefore well be taken as the specific event answering to the prophecy. This moreover was the first display of the kind which arrested the attention of mankind as a sign of the coming Judgment. And we think it would be no less a sign, should there be a display this fall, as predicted, or even many such, since all the notable ones are peculiar to the period of time marked out in the prophecy.

Smith's Illustrated Astronomy, under the head of “Aerolites, Meteors,” &c., says of the display of 1833:

“We now come to by far the most splendid display on record; and as it was the third in successive years, and on the same day of the month, it seemed to invest the meteoric showers with a periodical character; and hence originated the title of November meteors. An incessant play of dazzlingly brilliant meteors was kept up in the heavens for several hours. Some of these were of considerable magnitude and of peculiar form. One of large size remained for some time almost stationary in the zenith, over the falls of Niagara, emitting streams of light. The wild dash of the waters, as contrasted with the fiery uproar above them, formed a scene of unequalled sublimity. In many districts, the mass of the population were terror-struck, and the more enlightened were awed at contemplating so vivid a picture of the Apocalyptic image—that of the stars of heaven falling to the earth, even as a fig-tree casting her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

“A planter of South Carolina thus describes the effect of the scene upon the ignorant blacks: ‘I was suddenly awakened by the most distressing cries that ever fell on my ears. Shrieks of horror and cries for mercy, I could hear from most of the negroes of three plantations, amounting in all to about six or eight hundred. While earnestly listening for the cause, I heard a faint voice near the door calling my name. I arose, and taking my sword, stood at the door. At this moment, I heard the same voice still beseeching me to rise, and saying “O my God, the world is on fire.” I then opened the door, and it is difficult to say which excited me most—the awfulness of the scene, or the distressed cries of the negroes. Upwards of one hundred lay prostrate on the ground—some speechless, and some with the bitterest cries, but with their hands raised, imploring God to save the world and them. The scene was truly awful; for never did rain fall much thicker than the meteors fell toward the earth; east, west, north, and south, it was the same.’”

The Western Rural says: “Professor Newton of Yale College, foretells a prodigious flight of meteors on the 13th or 14th of November, 1866. It will probably be the last of the century. Only thirteen of these meteoric showers are recorded between the years 903 and 1833.”

The Boston Commercial says: “Next in grandeur and sublimity to a total solar eclipse, or a great comet stretched athwart the starry heavens, is the great meteoric shower, such as was witnessed here in November, 1833. On that occasion, from 2 o'clock till broad daylight, the sky being perfectly serene and cloudless, the whole heavens were lighted with a magnificent and imposing display of celestial fireworks. Arago computes that not less than 240,000 meteors were visible above the horizon of Boston on the morning of the 13th of November, 1833. This display was seen all over North America. A similar display was seen by Humboldt at Cumana, South America, in 1799. A comparison of the epochs of the appearance

of these showers, has led to the discovery that they are periodic, their returns being separated from each other by a third part of a century, or some multiple of this period, and are periodical appearances of one grand meteoric shower. Prof. Newton, of Yale College, who has devoted much time to the investigation of the periodic character of these showers, finds that a prodigious flight of meteors, the most imposing of its kind, will make its appearance, probably for the last time in this century, on the morning of the 13th or 14th of November next. Only thirteen of these great showers are recorded between the years 903 and 1833. Such a rare phenomenon awakens a deep interest among all classes of persons. Preparations to observe this sublime spectacle, for scientific purposes, have already commenced in Europe. Let no one forget Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Nov. 13 and 14.”

A Chicago paper says: “Professor Ferguson, of the National Observatory in Washington, is making preparations to take scientific observations on the expected meteoric display in November next. The subject of meteors and shooting stars has engaged the attention of eminent astronomers within the last century to a greater extent than ever before; among them Professors Olmstead, Twining and Newton have written valuable papers in connection with it.

“The appearance of shooting stars is quite common, but in the months of August and November of each year they are seen in greater numbers, generally about the 10th of August and the 12th of November. The great meteoric shower of 1799 seems to have drawn the attention of astronomers more particularly to this subject, and from that time to the recurrence of the meteoric showers in 1833, and up to the present day, they have been endeavoring to refer the different phases and characteristics of the phenomenon to known laws, and to establish the exact anniversary of its appearance.

“Thus far the more brilliant of these meteoric showers have occurred at intervals of thirty-three years; that of 1833 was especially distinguished by the immense number of moving meteors to be seen at once, and for the remarkable size and splendor of many of them. Among the many myriads of blazing meteors visible on that occasion, one was seen at several places on this continent. It was recognized by several observers by its extraordinary size and brilliancy, as well as by the length of time its train remained visible, which was about ten minutes. The luminous train seemed to follow the meteor in a serpentine course, and finally disappeared in a vast nebulous cloud, many times larger than the moon, and which continued to move onward with a velocity greater than the clouds.

“The meteoric displays of 1799 and 1833 were characterized by the fall of the meteorites, which, rushing toward the earth with a loud noise, penetrated beneath it several feet. The periodicity of these starry showers, is not so definitely ascertained with regard to the day as to the year. They have occurred to a greater or less degree in the months of August and November, from 1833 to 1839, but the most remarkable of them have appeared on the 12th of November, or between that date and the 14th.

“The next appearance of the meteoric phenomenon, therefore, is expected on or about the 12th of next month. The observations of the astronomers have demonstrated that the shooting stars are more numerous between midnight and sunrise, and the majority of them agree that in fixing the radiant point—that point which the lines described by the meteors in their flight centre—in the constellation Leo, limiting the area of radiation to the immediate vicinity of Regulus in the neck of the lion. Others assign the radiant point to the constellation Orion.

“The theory most generally accepted in accounting for the regular recurrence of meteoric showers, is that an unusual aggregation of these asteroids exists in the plane which is reached by the earth at that point of its orbit, and through which the earth is several hours in passing, although observations have not been sufficiently numerous to establish the exact period of the earth’s arrival at this part of its orbit. During the flight of meteors in November, 1833, much apprehension was manifested from the fear that one or more of these asteroids would come into collision with the earth; but hitherto no disastrous consequences have ensued from this grand celestial display, and although there is reason to believe that an event of this kind is possible, scientific men unite in the opinion that such a calamity is not within the bounds of probability.”