302 Mr. J. Glaisher on the Meteor of the \2th of August 1852. 



Hence, taking into account the curvature of the earth, from 

 the observation at — 



Belfast its height was 67 miles. 



Dorrington ... 47 ... 



Pembroke ... 67 



Swansea ... 67 ... 



Torrington ... 62 



Sidmouth ... 67 



Yeovil ... 59 ... 



As the altitudes in all cases were either measured, or deter- 

 mined by reference to adjacent stars, each of these results are 

 entitled to equal weight ; but it is evident that the angle at 

 Don-ington was too small, although measured by a sextant. If 

 this result be omitted, the resulting distance from the earth is 

 65 miles ; if included, it is 62 miles. The former result is pro- 

 bably the more accurate. 



The observations do not furnish data for determining the path 

 of the meteor in the heavens, except that it was moving towards 

 the west, and approaching the earth ; when first seen by the 

 observer at Pembroke it was at an a]titude of 33^, and therefore 

 was about 75 miles from the earth. The observer who fii-st saw 

 the meteor was Matthew Moggeridge, Esq., at Swansea, and this 

 gentleman agrees with others in the almost fixed position of the 

 meteor for some time before its extinction. There is a remark- 

 able agreement as to the colour of the meteor ; all speak of it as 

 being of an intense blue ; from the observers at the most distant 

 stations, who must have viewed it under very diiferent circum- 

 stances respecting the clearness of the atmosphere, to those who 

 saw it at a high elevation. 



The brilliancy of the meteor is spoken of as extreme. 



The size of the meteor seems to have been very great, both 

 from the general accounts and from sketches which have been 

 furnished to me. 



At the time of this meteor's appearance the sky all over En- 

 gland, except in the west and south, was covered by dark cloud ; 

 I have therefore failed to obtain any accounts, except at places 

 situated on the west and south coasts. 



