mation the meteor was about 15' in diameter, traversing about 60 ® in 

 4 sec. of time, leavinjx a long and remarkable tr;un of sparks that con- 

 tinued from first to last about ten minutes, which gradually contracted 

 into an oblong form from one to two degrees in diameter, and for a time 

 appeared to station itself a littleto the west of 7 Crux. During the time 

 of transit the meteor gave a brilliant illumination, much more incan- 

 descent than that produced by the full moon. 



A remarkable effect followed, which \'; . apparently produced by the 

 meteor. The night was clear, the sky brilliant with stars ; so diaphonus 

 was the state of the atmosphere that for many consecutive days Venus 

 was seen by the nakad ej^e, and her path traced across the sky in bright 

 sunshine. The barometer stood at 30.124 in. ; thermometer, 56 ° ; 

 elastic force of vapor, 317; humidity, 70, Under these circumstances, 

 the meteor suddenly appeared, but immediately after the clouds began 

 to collect from all quarters and concentrate about the paths of the 

 meteor, until the sky was covered, and not a star could be seen. This 

 aspect lasted only for a short time, when the clouds became dissipated, 

 and in less than an hour from commencement the sky became as 

 brilliant with stars as before. 



Private Observatory, Hobart Town, 

 May, 1862. 



