Kirkwood.l ^''^ [March 16, 



On Eight Meteoric Fireballs seen in the United States from July, 187fi, to 



February, 1877. 



By Daniel Kirkwood, Professor of Mathematics in Indiana 

 University, Bloomington, Indiana. 



(Read before the American Philosophical Society, March 16, 1877.) 



The number of meteoric fireballs observed in the United States during 

 tlie latter part of 1876 and the beginning of 1877 has been quite re- 

 markable. In several instances the meteors have exploded with tremen- 

 dous detonations, and the disruption has been followed by the fall of aero- 

 lites. Tiie description and analysis of the latter will doubtless be given to 

 the scientific world by those who have devoted special attention to this 

 department of research. In the meantime some account of the meteoric 

 phenomena will not be without interest. 



I. 



The Great Meteor of July 8, 1876. 



On the evening of July 8th, 1876, about fifteen minutes before nine 

 o'clock, Chicago time, a very large meteor passed over Ohio and Michi- 

 gan, and was visible in the adjacent States of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. 

 At Wolcottville, La Grange County, Indiana, it was well observed by Mr. 

 William L. Taylor, a member of the senior class in Indiana University, 

 who states that the point of first appearance was almost exactly East of 

 Wolcottville, and at an elevation of nearly 60^. At Valparaiso, Porter 

 County, Indiana, according to Rev. Robert Beer, it appeared a little North 

 of East ; while at Chicago it seemed to start from a point somewhat South 

 of East and about 25° above the horizon. Mr. Benjamin Vail, of Ilenry- 

 villc, Clarke County, Indiana, and Mr. J. W. Ilollingsworth, of Paoli, 

 Orange County, each saw the meteor under favorable circumstances. 

 According to the former, its direction from Henry ville, when first visible, 

 was about North North-east. The observations of Messrs. Taylor and 

 Vail thus determine the point of first visibility, while the notes of Mr. 

 Hollingsworth, in connection with observations at Bloomington, Indiana, 

 indicate almost precisely the same position. The body was first seen over 

 Fulton County, Ohio, not far from latittide 41^^ 40' North, longitude 84^ 

 West. 



Altitude when First Visible. 



Mr. Vail, who is known by the writer to be generally accurate, says the 

 apparent altitude of the meteor when first seen at Ilenryville, was about 

 20°. The distance from that place to Ottokee, Fulton County, Ohio, is 226 

 miles. Mr. Vail's observation gives, therefore, about 88 miles as the ver- 

 tical height of the meteor when first observed. The Paoli, Wolcottville, 

 and Chicago observations indicate very nearly the same result. 



