366 On the Meteors of 13th November. 
ded a little northward of the star Capella, left, just behind the place 
of explosion, a phosphorescent train of peculiar beauty. This line 
was at first nearly straight, but it shortly began to contract in length, 
to dilate in breadth, and to assume the figure of a serpent drawing it- 
self 5 until it appeared like a small Juminous cloud of vapor. ‘This 
rne eastward, (by the wind, as was supposed, which was 
blowiig gently in that direction) opposite to the direction in which the 
—— had proceeded, remaining in sight several minutes. The light 
e meteors was usua a white, but was wrscemceteed prismatic with 
epedoncnn dee of blu 
_ A quarter before six o ‘olodk: it appeared to the company that the 
point of apparent radiation Was moving eastwar from the zeni 
when it occurred to the a to mark its place, accurately, among 
the fixed stars. The point was then seen to be in the constellation 
Leo, within the bend of ite sickle, a little to the westward of Gam- 
ma Leonis. During the hour following, the radiating point remain- 
ed stationary in the same part of Leo, although the constellation in 
the mean time, by the diurnal revolution, moved westward to the me- 
ridian-nearly 15 degrees.* By referring to a celestial globe, it will 
be seen that this point has a right ascension of 150 degrees, and a de-_ 
clination of about 21 degrees. Consequently, it was, vise on the 
meridian, 20 degrees 18 minutes south of the zenith. 
The weather had sustained a recent change. On the evening of 
the 11th, a very copious southerly rain fell, and on the 12th, @ 
high westerly wind prevailed, by gusts. Last evening the sky was 
very serene ; a few “ falling stars” were observed, but “they were not 
so numerous as to excite particular attention. 
The writings of Humboldt contain a description of a similar ap- 
os ad observed by Bonpland, at Cumana, in 1799. It is worthy 
of remark, that this phenomenon was seen nearly at the same hours 
of the morning, and on the 12th of November. 
- Vale College, Nov. 13, 1833.” 
. Phenomena as biactbod: at Boston, (Lat. 429.21’ N. Lon. 
os 4’ W.) and published in the Columbian Centinel. 
off This pin there was the appearance of a thick shower of fire. 
It was. occasioned by the incessant EMIS of innumerable meteors 
commonly called falling or shooting st 
risen as usual at 4 0 iseh, 1 thought I observed Sseerdl 
very bright falling stars, but as the window was covered with steam, 
Poco re of the importance of this fact to the question whether the origin of the 
t was be eal orn not, the writer remarked it with much pooneee but the ads 
yancing light i 
it necessary to to ely on hes who “es pin Ser ngregres earlier to ~ nger, for a con- 
Erpation of it, if the fact was so, ordingly, in the paper. eo the succeeding day, 
sult will ore in the seque 
