A CATALOGUE OP OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 61 



« The sky being very clear, it was still bright day-light. Supposing it only 

 a rocket, although a gigantic one, we resumed our conversation, but the sta- 

 tionary character of the train again attracted our attention, though we ascribed 

 it chiefly to the stillness of the air, or not quite so oblique. After 

 upwards of five minutes it gradually became less dense, as if the 

 fiery flakes or atoms receded from each other. Then it gradually 

 assumed the appearance of a series of very bright small clouds 

 at sun-set, only the brightest side was turned to the eastward. 

 Elevation of the phaenomenon above the horizon at first about 

 35°. Length of the train about 5°. When the train became dis- 

 membered it seemed to have risen higher in the atmosphere, by 

 some 10°. 



I regret much from the wrong impression, tKat I did not take 

 more accurate notes of this very bright meteor, as it proved to be. 



No. 5. — Extract of a note from Mr. Lowe. 



" I beg to enclose you sketches and description of the remarkable meteor 

 (No. 10 of the foregoing Catalogue) which was seen here on the 19th of De- 

 cember 1855, at e** 13° A.M. 



F"g-1- MF M^J Fig. 2, 



" The meteor was first seen in N.N.W., moving towards the W. Fig. 1 

 represents the appearance when at the brightest, at which time it more closely 

 resembled a brilliant flash of lightning than a meteor ; the light, for the mo- 

 ment it lasted, equaling that of day. When first seen it was not far distant 

 from the position of H 17 Camelopardi, and moving downwards to midway be- 

 tween Capella and fj. Persei. The size was about that of the apparent diameter 

 of the moon. There was no noise of explosion heard. After the meteor 

 itself had vanished, a belt of light, similar to that of a comet's tail, was visible 

 along the whole path of the meteor ; this gradually became less bright, and 

 after a short time the lower portion was curved towards the east. Fig. 2 

 shows its first appearance, and fig. S when curved ; later it assumed the form 

 of fig. 4, and afterwards of fig. 5 ; when it nearly approached that of a cir- 

 cular band ; the upper portion never moved its position in the heavens. Fi- 

 nally, on breaking ujj the base of the circle disappeared first. It was visible 

 fully ten minutes. A falling star of about the 1st magnitude crossed over 

 the band horizontally from W. to E., starting near Capella and moving 

 towards e Cassiopeise. 



" The night was cloudless with a cutting E.S.E. wind. 



" E. J. Lowe." 



No. 6. — Extract of a note from Mr. Lowe. 



" Observatory, Beeston neai- Nottingham, 

 July 25, 1856. 

 " From the appearances presented in the several large meteors seen at the 

 end of last and at the beginning of this year, it appears evident to me that 



