SECT, xxxvii.] SHOOTING STABS. 451 



of the Observatory of Toulouse, not only render probable 

 the existence of small satellites, but tend to establish the 

 identity of a body revolving round the earth in three hours 

 and twenty minutes. It is evident that in this case the 

 same satellite would be seen very often, and a very few 

 would be sufficient to account for their nightly appearance. 

 It is possible, however, that some shooting stars may belong 

 to one class, and some to the other, since one group may be 

 revolving about the sun, and another round the earth. In 

 the case of a satellite shooting star, geometry furnishes the 

 means of ascertaining its exact distance from the spec- 

 tator, or from the centre of the earth, if the time and place 

 of its disappearance be known with regard to the neigh- 

 bouring stars. 



G a 2 



