Astronomers Prepare For Meteor Showers Over Boston Heavens

Intense nocturnal activity at the University Observatory is expected tonight and throughout the early part of the week as the star gazers train their telescopes skyward for an aerial fireworks show of thousands of meteors, calculated to make their debut in the Boston sector of earth's atmosphere at 10 o'clock Wednesday.

Members of the staff predicted last week that the spray of falling meteors will resemble the illuminated ribs of a huge umbrella, with the top conveniently completed by the constellation Draco.

The astronomers also gave assurance that the display would be visible without intruments if weather conditions were good. They indicated that a comet which sails under the name of Giacobini-Zinner is responsible for this affair, and that this body will be only 131,000 miles away from the earth during the next three days.

A quick look at the records showed that only one other solar body has approached as near to this planet, a mere stone's throw in astronomical circles considering that the moon is a little less than twice as far away. The last appearance of this particular comet comparable in proximity occurred in 1933.

The long tail which may appear, the scientists explained, would be made up of many meteroid clusters trailing behind the parent for as much as 32 million miles. The particles will strike the atmosphere at the slow rate of 14 miles per second, they said, because both will be moving in the same direction.