48^ Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



meteor; they were of the apparent size, but much motfe bHlliant 

 than the smaller stars, and after descending a little distance, dis- 

 appeared. 



ix. The meteor was visible for about eight or perhaps ten seconds. 



X. A second or two before its disappearance, three much larger 

 sparks or luminous fragments were thrown off at once, two of them 

 the apparent size of Venus, the third larger. These were the last 

 pieces which were seen to leave the body. Their paths were at 

 first nearly parallel with that of the meteor, yet beneath it. From 

 this direction, however, they all deviated constantly and rapidly, in 

 parabolic curves, until they seemed faUing perpendicularly towards 

 the earth. Each fragment became less and less distinct until it 

 disappeared. The largest continued visible until about 20° from 

 the horizon. 



xi. The meteor itself disappeared as suddenly as if, in one in- 

 divisible moment, it had passed into a medium absolutely opaque, 

 or as if, at a given moment, it had left the atmosphere ; but a few 

 moments afterwards there was a distinct and somewhat extensive 

 illumination over that part of the sky for about a second. 



xii. When the meteor disappeared, it was about 30° above the 

 horizon in the direction of N. 45° E. or 25° east of the place 

 where it was first seen. The direction of the path was probably 

 from W. by S. to E. by N. The meteor was obviously going 

 from the observer, its path making an angle with the optic axis of 

 about 60°. 



xiii. Between eight and ten minutes after the disappearance of 

 the meteor, there was a loud and heavy report, accompanied by a 

 very sensible jar ; it did not much resemble either thunder or the 

 report of a cannon, but was louder, shorter, and sharper than 

 either, and was followed by no perceptible echo. 



xiv. A friend of Dr. Dwight's, who was in Berlin at the time, 

 about twenty-three miles due N. of Newhaven, saw the meteor 

 distinctly, but made no particular observations. His account ac- 

 corded generally with that given ; but the meteor appeared to him 

 larger, more elevated, and somewhat more to the east in its appa- 

 rent place. No account could be obtained of any fragments which 

 had fallen from it. — Silliman's Journal^ xiii. 35. 



4. Remarkable Meteoric 'Phenomenon, described by Chladni. — A 

 noise, resembling thunder in its rolhng nature, was heard at Saar- 

 bruck and the environs, about four o'clock on the 1st of April, 

 1826, the atmosphere being clear, and the sun shining brightly. 

 During the sound, a greyish object, apparently about three feet 

 and a half in height, was seen in the air, rapidly approaching the 

 earth, and there expanding itself like a sheet; there was then 

 silence for about a minute, after which another sound, resembling 

 thunder, was heard, as if it had originated at the place where the 

 meteor fell. Nothing was found when the place was afterwards 

 examined. — Bull, Univ, A. viii. 143. 



