125 years ago in 1899, transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

Eyes were on the sky in November 1899 for Leonids meteor shower

Brilliant fall of meteors is expected shortly after midnight. Will be visible here. Director Pickering of Harvard University furnishes some interesting information.

Sometime tonight, probably just after midnight, if the calculations of the astronomers are not at fault, will occur the greatest fall of meteors witnessed in more than a century and which will be visible in all parts of the world.

Writing of the expected display, Director Pickering of Harvard Observatory says:

‘The time of the appearance of the November meteors is somewhat uncertain. In 1799 they appeared on the night between November 11 and 12. In 1833 on November 12-13, and in 1866 on November 13-14.

This year two English astronomers, Messrs. Stoney and Downing, from a careful discussion of the paths of meteors, predict their appearance on the morning of Thursday, November 16. Comparatively few meteors may be expected before midnight. It would be safest, therefore, to watch the northeastern sky on Wednesday evening and, if many meteors are seen before midnight a greater number may be expected later.’

Observers intending to watch the display must necessarily take up a position commanding a good open view of the northeastern sky near the horizon before midnight. The radiant must next be located, being a point among the stars in the sickle shaped group in the constellation Leo. When the radiant, or point from which the meteors seem to radiate, has just risen above the horizon. The meteors appear to traverse long paths, but as the radiant approaches the meridian the paths are much foreshortened by the effects of perspective.

This magnificent meteoric display is well worthy of observation, and, the showers of 1833 and 1866 having proved so remarkable, there is no reason why we should not look forward to an equally brilliant display in 1899.

The history of the meteor stream dates back nearly 1,000 years (as far as out knowledge of it is concerned), to the shower of 902, when ‘an immense number of falling stars were seen to spread themselves over the face of the sky like rain.’ The display was so impressive that the year in which it occurred was thereafter referred to as ‘the year of stars.’

The meteor stream now known as the Leonids, because the meteors radiate from a place among the stars forming the sickle, in the well known constellation of Leo, returned in 931, 1002, 1101 and 1203 it is recorded that the ‘stars shot hither and thither in the heavens, eastward and westward, and flew against on another like a scattering swarm of locusts to the right and left.

This phenomenon lasted until daybreak. People were thrown into consternation and cried to God, the Most High, with confused clamor.’

(This meteor stream) was a remarkable display and may be said to have heralded the dawn of meteoric astronomy.

Compiled from the Youngstown Vindicator by Dante Bernard, Mahoning Valley Historical Society Museum educator.