A CATALOGUE OF OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 51 

M4 ~ (8.) Observations on luminous meteors, August 10, 1849. 
a No. 1. Between 94 30™ p.m. and 9" 33™ p.m., a rather jarge luminous 
_ meteor shot from the Via Lactea, nearly midway between Cygnus and Cas- 
_ siopeia; it was nearer Cassiopeia than Cygnus; its path was apparently 
straight, across Lacerta, and the point of disappearance between Cygnus and 
Pegasus considerably below the former and much nearer the latter. It 
searcely passed, if at all, the line joining « Cygni and 6 Pegasi. It left a 
train of reddish scintillations, which were more conspicuous about the middle 
of its course, dying away at each extremity. 
a No.2. A small meteor, between one and two degrees east of Polaris, 
. passing downwards. 
a No. 3. A luminous meteor passing between a and (6 Pegasi, and cutting 
the line joining them very obliquely; its direction appeared to be parallel to 
the meridian towards the south; it was small and of short duration, but rather 
larger than No. 2. 
a No. 4. A small luminous meteor, near the head of Capricornus, passing 
south and west. 
a No. 5. 
a No. 6. At about a minute or two before 10" p.u., a rather large lumi- 
“nous meteor shot from above and to the north of Cassiopeia and disappeared 
just to the north of Cygnus, the points of appearance and disappearance 
being within the boundaries of each constellation; its apparent path, which 
was straight, appears to have crossed the head of Cepheus. It was attended 
by a train of reddish scintillations, more conspicuous in the middle, and 
' dying away at each extremity. This meteor was extremely similar to a No. 1 
in every respect, save one, viz. direction. ‘The directions of these meteors 
did not appear to be parallel, but such as to give the idea of divergence; the 
line of direction of a No. 1 produced backwards, intersecting that of a No. 6 
about the point of its commencement. 
The above meteors were the only ones seen between 9} 30™ p.m. and 104, 
They were all of a blue colour. 
_ 6No.1(?). At a very few minutes after 105 p.m., a very large and bright 
meteor shot from beneath the tail of Ursa Major (the constellation at the 
‘time being covered with a cloud), most probably in the neighbourhood of 
Cor. Caroli; it crossed about the middle of Bootes, e Bootes (?), and vanished 
to the south of Corona Borealis. I much regret I did not obtain a full view 
of this fine meteor, which was by far the largest hitherto seen, and I should 
conceive exhibited the longest path, being engaged at the moment in con- 
templating Cassiopeia. The light attracted my attention, and on turning I 
just caught a sufficient glimpse of the meteor to assure me of its magnitude 
‘and direction. I had a full view of the train of reddish scintillations which 
it left behind; this train perfectly agreed with the two I had previously 
witnessed ; its direction appeared to be very nearly if not quite parallel to the 
‘horizon ; it indicated that the path of the meteor was straight. 
6 No. 2 (?). Asmall but bright meteor passed directly over Polaris, bisect- 
‘ing the star; its course appeared to be in the meridian towards the horizon. 
N.B. I-am not quite certain which of these meteors occurred earliest, but 
Tsstrongly suspect that 6 No. 1 was first. 
 bNo. 3. : 
' 6No.4. A very splendid globular meteor, about the size of Jupiter at 
Opposition, of a whitish colour, very slightly tinged with red, passed with a 
‘comparatively slow motion immediately over y Pegasi (the star was bisected ). 
Its path, which was slightly curved, was nearly parallel to the horizon, and 
‘the meteor increased in brilliancy as it proceeded until its disappearance, 
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