390 Mr Galloway on Shooting-Stars and Meteors. 



of their visibility, far beyond the limits to which atmosphere 

 is supposed to extend, and that their velocities greatly exceed 

 that which is due to bodies moving at the same distance 

 from the sun under the influence of solar gravitation. It is 

 perhaps impossible to form any correct estimate of the abso- 

 lute magnitudes of the meteors. Their apparent magnitudes 

 differ greatly ; the greater number resembling stars of the 

 third or fourth magnitude, while many are equal to stars of 

 the first, and some even surpass Jupiter and Venus in bril- 

 liancy. It is remarkable that the largest are those which have 

 the greatest altitude, and only the smaller ones appear to 

 come within 20 or even 40 miles of the earth. 



Epochs of Becurrence of Falling Stars. — With respect to the 

 casual observations of the phenomena, the accounts of which 

 are very numerous, the most interesting conclusion which 

 has been inferred from them is the periodical recurrence of 

 shooting-stars in unusual numbers at certain epochs of the 

 year. Of these epochs, the most remarkable is that of No- 

 vember, on account of the prodigious number of meteors 

 which have been seen in some years at that time. The 

 principal displays were 1799, 1832, 1833, and 1834. On 

 the 11th of November 1799, thousands were observed within 

 a few hours by Humboldt and Bonpland at Cumana ; and on 

 the same night by different persons over the whole continent 

 of America, from the borders of Brazil to Labrador, and also 

 in Greenland and Germany. On the 12th November 1832, 

 they were seen over the whole of the north of Europe ; and 

 on the 12th of November 1833, the stupendous exhibition 

 took place in North America, which has been so often de- 

 scribed. From the accounts of this phenomenon collected by 

 Professor Olmsted, M. Arago computed that the number of 

 meteors on this night amounted to 240,000. In 1834, a 

 similar phenomenon recurred on the night of the 13th of 

 November, but on this occasion the meteors were of a smaller 

 size. In 1835, 1836, and 1838, shooting-stars were observed 

 on the night of the 13th November, in different parts of the 

 world ; but though diligently looked for on the same night in 

 the last few years, do not appear to have been more nume- 

 rous than on other nights about the same season, — a circum- 

 stance which has shaken the faith of many in their periodicity. 



