224 Mr. Bowditch’s estimate of the height, Sc. 
made use of in obtaining the azimuths of the meteor. The angular 
elevation of the meteor above the horizon appeared always greater 
than that of the barn 3° 25’, and less than that of a tree in front of the 
window, along the branches of which the meteor ranged ;_ the altitude 
of the top of this tree was 7° 10’... These fixed objects served to de- 
termine the altitude of the meteor, which is the most important ele- 
ment in the calculation, to a considerable degree of accuracy. After 
the theodolite was carefully adjusted, Mrs. Gardner directed the tel- 
escope attached to the instrument towards that part of the heavens 
where she first saw the meteor, the true azimuth was N 106° 54’ 64” 
W. Altitude 5° 50’ 40"... The azimuth of a second place where it 
was seen was N 117° 35’ 54” W. Altitude as before. The azi- 
mouth of a third place was N, 132° 15’ 54’’ west. Altitude 5° 29’ 40", 
The azimuth of the place of disappearance was N 144°33'54” W. Al- 
titude 4° 1'40".* All these azimuths fall within the limits mentioned 
above, but the two last are undoubtedly too great. For a great circle 
‘passing through Wenham and Weston is inclined to the meridian of 
Wenham by an angle equal to 125° 18’ 38”, and as the two last azi- 
muths exceed that quantity, they fall to the southward of Weston, 
which cannot. be correct, because the meteor disappeared before it 
arrived at the zenith of Weston, as was observed by Judge Wheeler 
It happens fortunately in the present instance that the other places of 
observation at Weston and Rutiand are so situated with respect to 
Wenham, that a considerable error in the azimuths at Wenham, would 
not materially affect the result of the calculation made for determining 
the height or direction of the meteor, as. will appear in the follow: 
ing calculations. Mrs, Gardner supposed the meteor to have bee? 
* In the following calculations the allowances made for refraction in the above 
observations, were 8’ 50”, 8’ 50”, 9’ and 10’ 10” making the altitudes respectively 
5° 41 50”, 5° 41’ 50”, 5° 20’ 40”, and 3° 51’ 30”. 
