Shooting Stars of August, 1839. 327 



dor to Yenns, fell almost vertically in the S. S. E., and suddenly, 

 when at the brightest, disappeared near Fomalhaut. It traversed 

 an arc of ahout 20^^, and was remarkable for its great magnitude, 

 its brillicmt train, and its golden green Hght * 



The night of the 10th was also very favorable. Prof. Stanley, 

 Messrs. Bush and Haile, and myself, watched for three hours, and 



teors as follows; 



/ 



N- E. s. w. Total. 



lOh. to lib. p. M., 25 35 30 33 123 



lib. to 12h. p. M., 50 44 36 59 1S9 



Oh. to Ih. A. M., (11th;) 33 44 51 52 179f 



491 



As to general characters the meteors were similar to those of 

 the night preceding. Several of the most splendid ones were 

 ou both niglits seen before we commenced observations. On the 

 evening of the 10th, two were plainly seen a few minntes after 

 7 P. M., while the dayUght was qnite strong. About IIP. M. 

 we saw one low in the N., which afier traversing an arc of about 

 5^, flashed out with greenish bhie scintillations, of dazzling bril- 

 liancy. The train remained in sight from IS to 20 seconds after. J 

 Mr. R P. Mason, who was using the large Reflector, for several 

 hours on both nights, saw during that period, about twenty me- 

 teors, less brilliant than stars of the seventh magnitude, (and of 

 course invisible to the naked eye,) passing across the field of 



view. 



M 



meteors w^ere becoming a little more frequent; but owing to fa- 

 tigue incurred the day previous, and to the expectation of a watch 



* Several of the meteors showed a greenish tin^e. Meteors wholly green have 

 been sometimes observed. One is described by B. D. Silliman, Esq., in this Jour- 

 nal, vol. XIV. p. li)9. 



t Owing to an interruption of the observations, several meteors were durin^'^thia 

 hour, lost in the N. and W. quadrants : probably as many as 20 in all. The appa- 

 rent diminution is therefore not real. ^ 



% The permanence of some meteoric trains is truly astonishing. They are occa- 

 sionnlly seen to remain as long as thirty seconds after the extinction of the meteor. 

 On the morning of November 14th, 1838, trustworthy observers, who were then in 

 about lat. 15° S., Ion. 34^ VV., saw among other meteors one at Ih. 40m. A. M., 

 whose train continued visible four minutes. During the meteoric shower of No- 

 vember, 1833, the train of a large fire ball is said to have been seen nearly or quite 

 fifteen minutes. ' - 



