On the Meteors of \Sth November, 1833. 335 



present, in a single view, the following deductions and conjectures, 

 as the best which it is in our power to form. 



1st. The shower commenced feebly about 9 P. M. Nov. 12th 

 throughout the United States, and every where came to its greatest 

 intensity at about the same hour, — probably half past 4 of the 

 morning following. 



2nd. The general phenomena, exhibited in the body of the show- 

 er, were every where alike ; particularly that remarkable one of the 

 existence of a point of apparent radiation. 



3d. The radiant point was every where stationary, or nearly so, in 

 the heavens, for two hours and a half at least, at some time towards 

 morning ; and was nearly stationary an hour farther back (the time 

 when Capt. Parker saw it). 



4th. The radiant point, in the beginning of the shower, was prob- 

 ably far west of its place on the following morning; and probably it 

 arrived at its ultimate position by a progressively decreasing motion. 



5th. The radiant's position was not affected by difference of lon- 

 gitude, nor by parallax. 



6th. Its position was affected by a difference of latitude, at the rate 

 of about 1° 54' of north declination increased for each degree of ter- 

 restrial north latitude diminished. With the exception of particular ac- 

 cidental coincidences, these changes do not manifest a tendency to 

 follow the magnetic dip. 



Second. The nature and cause of the meteors. 



Obs. 1st. A careful attention to the phenomena which were pre- 

 sented immediately to the eye in the meteoric shower of Nov. 1 3th 

 might satisfy an observer of the truth of certain general ideas which 

 have been already advanced by Professor Olmsted in his memoir; 

 riz., that the meteors derived their existence from a cause beyond the 

 region of the earth's atmosphere ; that they were impelled or project- 

 ed with immense velocity, that they became luminous by entering into 

 the atmosphere and were consumed or dissipated by their motion 



through it. 



In the memoir alluded to, it has been illustrated in the most ample 

 manner that the radiant point which was the directrix of the apparent 

 motions, and at which nothing, it will be recollected, could be seen by 

 the eye even when assisted by the telescope, was an imaginary radi- 

 ant — the vanishing point of sight for parallel motions : — But, wheth- 

 er that radiant be considered an imaginary point or a real origin of 



