Mr. Farey on Shooting Stars and Meteors. 185 
currence, in steadily making, and recording, through a sufficient 
period of time, Observations on the Shooting Stars and Meteors, 
which may present themselves to the Eye ; “such not being made 
to wander about the field of view, in search of moving objects, 
but kept steadily fixed on some one constellation, or on a remark- 
able Star, not too bright, which through the successive Evenings 
of three or four weeks, may be fixed on, as the centre of the ob- 
servations to be made. 
One of the Assistants should be seated before the Watch, care- 
fully following the second’s Hand with his Eye, and inwardly 
counting the seconds elapsed, since each successive minute: an- 
other Assistant should be seated with the Planisphere before him, 
having his Eyes occasionally directed to the central Star agreed on 
as above mentioned, with Paper also before him, and Pen in 
hand, ready to write dover instantly, any observations which may 
be dictated to him, and to trace with the pencil on the Plani- 
sphere. 
Things being thus arranged, preparation may be made for 
commencing the Observations, by noting down the date and the 
time; with the addition of all observable circumstances, regarding 
the clearness of the air or otherwise, the situations and nature of 
any clouds in the field of view, the age and situation of the Moon, 
and whether its light or that of any of the brighter planets, seemed 
likely to affect the observations. 
The observations may then commenee, by the Observer stand- 
ing or sitting at ease, and fixing his eyes on the Star agreed on, 
steadily, bat not with any straining or effort which would fatigue 
the Eye :—at the very instant of seeing any Star move, he should 
ery out © now,” or any other short word that may be agreed on, 
as a direction to the Assistant at the Watch, to repeat alond ‘he 
second he had last counted, with the addition of one, two or three, 
quarter seconds elapsed since; these seconds and fractions the 
other Assistant should instantly write down, in the proper mar- 
ginal column of his Paper, and then place before them, the 
hour and minute, which next the Watch Assistant should read 
aloud. 
In the mean time, the Observer having as quickly as possible 
transferred the axis of his Eyes to the moving Star, he should 
make an effort to follow exactly its track with his Eyes, at the 
same time being very attentive to observe and remember, against 
or near to what fixed Star, he first saw the movement, what parti- 
cular Stars it may pass in its course, and near to which of them 
it vanishes: as soon as this has happened, he should begin to 
mention these Stars’ names (or characters or numbers, as they are 
distinguished in the Planisphere), which the Assistant should write 
Vol. 58, No, 281. Seas, 1821, Aa down, 
