Meteoric Shower of November, 1837. 393 
Whether (as some have supposed) the Spots on the Sun have 
any connexion with the Zodiacal Light or not, it may not be im- 
proper to record the fact, that these spots have, for a few weeks 
past, been very remarkable for their number, magnitude and frequent 
changes. On the 13th of November, there were on the sun’s disk, 
eight distinct groups visible in the finder of Clarke’s Telescope, 
which, with a power of 55, were resolved into more than sixty distinct 
spots. By the 20th of November, some of the larger groups had 
moved off the disk, and the remaining spots were less remarkable 
than before. To-day, however, (Dec. 18th,) they are as numerous 
and striking as ever, presenting at 10 o’clock, A. M. an appearance 
like the following, the comparative dimensions of the spots being 
increased a little for the sake of distinctness,* 
— 
On the night of the meteoric shower, the Magnetic Needle was 
carefully observed, at this place, by Mr. Herrick ; at St. John’s Col- 
lege in Maryland by President Humphreys; and at Mt. St. Mary’s 
College in the same state, by Mr. L. Obermeyer. At none of 
these places was any peculiar change in the needle detected. 
The Barometer and Thermometer were attentively watched by 
Mr. Charles Rich, but no remarkable changes either of pressure or 
of temperature were observed ; and such is the testimony on this 
point of observers in other places. 
The night of the 14th of November, as already remarked, was sig- 
nalized by an Aurora Borealis of the most magnificent description. 
Through the kindness of my friends and correspondents, I am in 
possession of numerous papers relating to this phenomenon, which 
I had purposed to collate in a separate article; but my limits do not 
permit its publication in the present number of this Journal. 
- Yale College, December 13th, 1837. 
* I am indebted for this diagram to Mr. A. B. Haile, who has examined the sun 
daily sinte the 13th of November. 
