230 Account of the Meteor 



eyes at that moment, when compared to what the direct 

 rays of the sun would produce in the middle of the day. 



The diameter of the larue ball at its first appearance, by 

 comparing it with the moon, (which is the best object I 

 know of for that purpose) I should think subtended an 

 angle of at least twentv miriutes of a d.esjree j the smaller 

 balls, which appeared all nearly of the same size, were about 

 a fitth part of the diameter of the large one, and I should 

 suppose subtended anglec of about four or five minutes of 

 a degree. The altitude of the meteor was about 50 or 55; 

 degrees, and continued nearly the same during the whole 

 time of its appearance, which was about four seconds and a, 

 half or four and three quarters \ it vanished instantaneously 

 with an azimuth of about 75 degrees to the west of the- 

 meridian. 



The azimuth and altitude were afterwards estimated by 

 means of a needle and compass and a small Gunter's qua- 

 drant, which I to^ik to the place where \ stood when I saw 

 the meteor, and they are I believe pretty correct, as the 

 surrounding objects assisted mc very much in making these 

 estimates. ' I also measured with a sextant the apparent path 

 which it described, and found it about 85 degrees. Its 

 disappearance was at 8" 30" 39' mean time, which I had an 

 opportunity of ascertaining by an excellent chronometer of 

 Mr. Earnshaw's construction which I happened to have 

 with me. 



In two mmutes after the appearance of this meteor \ 

 heard a noise which sounded like a distant clap of thunder, 

 or like the rumbling of a coach heard at a quarter of a mile's 

 distance going over a stone pavement ; it was pretty loud at 

 first, but got gradually fainter until it was no longer audible, 

 and, what was very surprising, it seemed to follow the very 

 same track the meteor before had appeared to move in : it 

 lasted a minute and forty seconds. 



The appearance of the meteor as it moved along had a 

 very great resemblance to that of a skyrocket seen at the 

 distance of about a mile. I have also since met with per- 

 sons who have seen meteors, and they have generally de- 

 scribed their appearance as very much resembling that of 

 a skyrocket, which may have induced sonre observers of 

 these phenomena to think they heard a hissing noise some- 

 thing hke wli.at these rockets occasion ; for the imaginatior^ 

 is so forcibly impressed by such comparisons, and the du- 

 ration of the appearance (;f meteors so very short, that it 

 is not at ail surprising we should be misled in our ideas, and 



copibine 



