of the meteor of 1807. 235 
same distance, and if a body were projected in a vertical direction. 
with about double the velocity (the air being supposed not to resist) 
it would proceed beyond the sphere of the earth’s attraction. 
In estimating the magnitude of the body from the present obser- 
vations, no very accurate result is to be expected, since the: apparent 
diameter was not exactly measured by-any of the observers. The 
observations. that were made, serve however to prove that the body 
was much larger than the whole mass of stones that fell near Weston, 
as will be evident from. the following calculations. Mr. Page sup- 
posed the apparent diameter of the body to be about one quarter 
part. of that of the moon, or about 8’. The greatest observed distance 
of the meteor from Rutland was 162 miles; the least 57 miles. The 
diameter. of the meteor corresponding to those distances and the 
angle 8’ are nearly jth. and 4d. of a mile, and, by this observation, the 
real diameter of the meteor must fall between those limits. Judge: 
Wheeler supposed the apparent diameter to be half or two thirds. 
of that of the moon, or between 16’ and 24. The least distance 
of the meteor from» Weston’ was 20 miles, the greatest 113 miles. 
” The least. diameter corresponding to the distance 20 miles and 
angle 16’ is 3, of a mile, or rather 491 fect; the greatest diame- 
ter, corresponding to the distance 113 miles, and angle 24’ is nearly $ 
of a mile, so that the limits furnished by this observation are nearly 
7 and 3 of a mile... Mrs. Gardner supposed the diameter to be equal 
to that of the mvon, or 32’; this, with the extreme distances at Wen- 
ham, 124 and 167 miles, furnish the limits 14and 14 miles. This last 
estimate exceeds the others considerably ; this may be. owing in part 
to the smallness of the altitude of the object, which probably made it 
appear larger than it would otherwise have done, from the same cause 
which makes the moon appear largest when near the horizon. The: 
least of all the limits of the diameter of the meteor is 491 feet. & 
body of this magnitude and of the same specific gravity as the stone 
