132 On the Meteors of IZth November, 1833. 



Art. XXV. — Observations on the Meteors of November 13<A, 

 1833; by Denison Olmsted, Professor of Mathematics and 

 Natural Philosophy in Yale College. 



(Continued from Vol. XXV. p. 411.) 



Having in the former part of this article, recited the leading facts 

 thai have been ascertained respecting the meteors ol Nov. 1 3th, 1833, 

 we proceed, as was proposed, to review the principal facts respecting 

 similar occurrences that have taken place at various other periods. 

 In this sketch our limits compel us to use as much brevity as possible. 



III. Of meteoric bodies seen at various periods. 



With 



conclusions on the subject before us, v\e have examined all the ac- 

 counts within our reach of bodies that have at different times present- 

 ed the appearance of fiery meteors.* 



The accounts of single balls of fire, traversing the atmosphere 

 with great velocity and projecting stony bodies to the earth, are 

 very numerous and well attested. A synopsis of these facts may 

 be found in various scientific works. f Although bodies of this 

 class, or Meteorites, may occasionally present the same appear- 

 ance as a "shooting star," yet the horizontal direction which they 

 take, the explosions which accompany them, and the solid masses 

 which fall from them to the earth, distinguish them from the class 

 of bodies now under consideration. The chemical constitution of 

 aerolites is well understood. They have generally yielded to chem- 

 ical analysis a large proportion of silex and iron, with a smaller pro- 

 portion of magnesia, nickel and sulphur, and occasionally, small por- 

 tions of other substances, as lime, manganese, cobalt, chrome, &c. 

 As we do not suppose the meteors of Nov. 13th to have been thus 

 constituted, it will be more to our purpose to inquire what other kinds 

 of meteors have occasionally made their appearance, and what other 

 substances have fallen from the skies. 



We regret not having been able to obtain access to several foreign publications 

 which are supposed to contain more ample information on this subject; particularly, 

 Gilbert's Annals, and the Works of Brandes and Chladni. 



f See particularly, Ed, Encyclopedia, in loc, Ed. Phil. Journal, in. 403. 



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