78 Meteorology. 
To Dr. Tilloch. 
. Gosport Observatory, July 5, F821. 
Sir,—I herewith forward for your Philosophical Magazine 
and Journal, a description of a meteoric phenomenon that ap- 
peared here last evening, in order to obtain, if possible, a more 
satisfactory account of it from some other observer situated 
further to the westward, in which direction it lay. 
I find the latitude of this place (which you asked for on the 
cover of your last Number), from many observations, to be 50° 
47’ 38” north; and longitude 1° 6’ 40” west of Greenwich. In 
time 4° 26"°7. . : 
I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
WitiramM BurRNeEY. 
A meteoric appearance of triangular and spheroidal forms, was 
observed here last evening (July 4th) between 9 and 10 o’clock, 
about W. by S. 11° or 12° above the horizon, and to the north 
of the moon, which was hid by a cumulos/ratus, so as only to 
show small portions of her deep red crescent at intervals, through 
the apertures of that compound cloud. Had the moon been some 
days older, to have enabled her to reflect a strong light in the at- 
tenuated haze in which this phenomenon was apparently situ- 
ated, I should have attributed it to a paraselene; as it was not 
far beyond the ordinary distance of one from the moon, and dis- 
played bright prismatic colours, as deep red, yellow, &c, But 
the aforesaid forms which it alternately assumed, and which were 
serrated round the edges; the diverging pencil rays issuing from 
the object, both in horizontal and perpendicular directions ; the 
surprising contractions and expansions which it repeatedly un- 
derwent, from upwards of a degree aud a half to a mere point, 
and then gradually increasing to its former brilliancy and extent; 
and the changing of its colours, were occurrences which led me to 
determine that it was not formed by reflection of the lunar rays, 
but by an electrical light in that part of the haze which was of 
a cirrostrative quality. About 10 o’clock the above-mentioned 
cloud, advancing:slowly by a freshening breeze, came up and gra- 
dually obscured this interesting phanomenon, which had been 
very conspicuous in a variety of forms and colours for more than 
half an hour, to the gratification of many who saw it. Some 
attributed it to the moon distorted; and some to a greatly dif- 
fused comet; while others, of a more liberal opinion, thought it 
was produced by some uncommon light in the haze near the ho- 
rizon, it having once or twice thrown out vivid coruscations not 
unlike those of the aurora Lorealis. 
‘ 
METEORO- 
