

%^ 



BowcUtcJi on the Meteor wliich passed over Wilmington 



deductions as seem to be warranted by the combination of all of 

 them. Observing however that a very great degree of accuracy 

 is not in general to be expected in these results, but merely a con- 

 siderable approximation towards the true elements, on account of 

 the degree of uncertainty which almost always attends such obser- 



which are suddenly made, in a moment of surprise, upon 



rations 

 a body 



ed to confirm each i 

 ^ i. The most p 



In the present instance then 

 ations, which generally tend 



of this meteor I 



pe 



published in the American Watchman (a Delaware newsp 



5 



Standing in the open 



the borough [of Wilmington, Del. lat. 39" 45', long. 75° 31' W 

 Greenwich, nearly,] we were surprised by a sudden flood of lidit, 



suiRcient to enable us to read 



print. Casting the 



eyes around, we discovered a fire ball in motion in a d 



north east 50'^ or 60° above the 



-J 



passed a little to the south of 



point of 



compass, and at ab 



zon : continuing its course, it 

 zenith, towards the opposite 



30 



abo 



horizon it became invisible. 



the western 



This body was perhaps ab 



before we saw it ; from which we infer that 



it first appeared about 



25° to 30 for 



time] 



I [a 



lied 





about 



■■ff 



than five 



the heavens, and in a perio 



Th 



of the body, when first observed, might be about half that of t) 

 full moon ; the tail which projected from it was of a conical shap 



5^. No sparks 



d extending, from the ball to the apex 



observ 



Th 



pact 



of fir 



> 



which was combined 



appeared 



be 



a 



dness of 



