the Meteor of' Februart/ II, 1H50. 263 



11th inst. It was seen by four of the Professors, viz. the Rev. 

 Michael Gibson, the Rev. John Gibson, the Rev. Robert 

 Gradwell, and the Rev. Chas. Gillow. These gentlemen 

 were at the time entering the gates of the College Lodge in a 

 closed carriage. The Rev. John Gibson was the first to per- 

 ceive it, and called the attention of the others to ' a meteor.' 

 It was at about a quarter before 1 1 p.m., was visible about 30 

 seconds; it left a train of light in its path, and terminated 

 with an explosion, shooting forth brilliant coloured scintilla- 

 tions of red and purple in the manner of a rocket. This ap- 

 pearance made all conclude that it was a rocket sent up from 

 Brancepeth. 



" The night was very clear, but as they supposed it was 

 only a rocket, they took no care to note its position by the 

 stars. To obtain a rough calculation of its position, 1 have 

 requested them separately to direct the telescope of the theo- 

 dolite to the place where, as far as could be recollected, it 

 seemed to each one. The Rev. M. Gibson directed it to 

 5° 17' altitude and 13° 15' azimuth, eastward of the south; 

 the Rev. R. Gradwell to 5° 20' altitude and 5° 15' azimuth; 

 and the Rev. John Gibson to 6° i-8' altitude, and described 

 its path as being from 5° 52' azimuth west to 5° 15' azimuth 

 east, beginning at a lower altitude of about 2°. This gentle- 

 man had the best view and saw it the longest, but it may have 

 been visible a few seconds before it attracted his notice. 



" It seems to me very remarkable, but all agree in saying 

 that the scintillations after the explosion seemed to fall. I 

 am of opinion that imagination must have aided this concep- 

 tion. Its whole appearance was very like that of a rocket, 

 but of extraordinary brilliancy." 



These are all the accounts I have received giving informa- 

 tion upon this body, and I now proceed to discuss them, with 

 the view of determining its distance, path, velocity, &c. 



I. Determinatio7i of the spot over tsohich the Meteor was vertical 

 on itsjirst appearance. 



The observations available for this determination are those 

 of J. Hannane, Esq., at Yeovil ; of Miss Faulkner at Ded- 

 dington ; and of the Rev. H. Linthwaite at Chester. Of 

 these observers, the most favourably situated was Mr. Han- 

 nane, who at the time was looking at that part of the sky 

 where it appeared, searching for the pole-star, and saw the 

 meteor burst out in a position 8° or 9° W . of N. Miss Faulk- 

 ner was well situated, being in a small garden, and looking at 

 the time towards that part of the heavens whose azimuth was 



