376 Solar Eclipse of July, 1860. 



approximation. This, allowing for the earth's motion in its orbit, 

 gives 26 or 27 miles a second as the actual velocity of the meteor 

 in space. Its relative velocity may have been much greater when 

 just entering the atmospliere, than after encountering its accumu- 

 lated resistance. 



(6.) The actual diameter of the luminous mass, taking its appa- 

 rent diameter as nearly equal to that of the moon, (the estimate 

 of many observers nearest its track) must have been from one fifth 

 to one-third of a mile. Many estimates would make it still larger. 

 The two principel heads when passing New Haven must have been 

 from one to three miles apart. 



(7.) A report is mentioned by many observers as having been 

 heard from one and a half to five minutes after the meteor passed. 

 The least time in which such a report could have been heard, 

 taking the usual constant for the velocity of sound (1090*47 feet 

 a second) would be about three minutes and a half. This is a 

 point of much interest, and needs to be investigated. 



The " rushing sound " spoken of by many as heard while the 

 meteor was passing, is of course to be attributed to imagination. 



ARTICLE XLYIII.— Za Verrier's Report on the Solar Eclipse 

 of July ^ 18, 1860, at Tarazona. From Silliman's Journal? 

 September, 1860. 



At the last moment, and after our notices of this phenomenon 

 were printed (see pp. 281, 285, 288) we have received LeYerrier's 

 Report of the Observations of the French Expedition to Spain, 

 made to the Minister of Public Instruction, which we hasten to 

 lay before our readers, slightly condensed, although other matters 

 which some of our correspondents will naturally look for here 

 are thereby displaced. The interest with which Le Verrier's new 

 views of the physical constitution of the Sun will be read is our 

 apology to all such. 



Le Verrier was accompanied to Spain by Messrs. Yvon Yillar- 

 ceau, and Chacornac, who were occupied chiefly with determin- 

 ing the height and position of two or more of the luminous ap- 

 pendages. M. Foucault studied the corona, and made the photo- 

 metric and photographic experiments. M. Le Yerrier observed 

 the astronomical phases of the phenomenon, and was also charged 

 with the duty of obtaining an exact description of the whole 

 scene. Two telescopes on Foucault's plan were devoted to the 



