REPORTS 



ON 



THE STATE OF SCIENCE. 



Report on Observations of Luminous Meteors, 1 863-Gl'. By a Committee, 

 consisting of James Glaishek, F.R.S., of the Royal Observatory, 

 Greenivich, Secretary to the British Meteorological Society, ^c. ; 

 Robert P. Greg, F.G.S., S^-c. ; E. W. Bkayley, F.R.S., ^c. ; and 

 Alexander S. Herschel, B.A. 



•^} 



In presenting this Eeport, the Committee have the satisfaction to point out 

 among the observations of luminous meteors contributed by Members of the 

 Association and by others during the past year, an unusual number of the 

 larger class, or fireballs. The largest of these, seen upon the 5th of December, 

 1863, produced the vivid impression of lightning over the whole area of the 

 British isles. The magnitudes of three fireballs seen at Paris on the 6th 

 of June, and 6th and 9th of August 1864, are therefore greatly underrated, 

 because the fii-st of these, recorded of the fii'st class, is rated only six times 

 brighter than Yenus. The light of full-moon is, on the contrary, at least 

 1300 times greater than the light of Venus. 



Many of the observations in the present Catalogue refer particularly to the 

 radiant-points of meteors. This inquiry should be promoted with the aid of 

 maps especially provided for the pm-pose. Essential service may be rendered 

 by obsei-vations recorded ui^on maps, because these accumulate from year to 

 year until the observations appeal together to the eye, more correctly than a 

 meteoric shower would do observed without their aid. 



Radiant-points were determined on the 30th November, 12th December 

 (1863), and on the 2nd January, 10th, 13th, and 20th April (1864), with plane 

 perspective maps, which it is feared would otherwise have escaped attention. 

 The number of radiant- points that yet remain to be determined appears to be 

 strictly measured by the zeal of the observers. Mr. R. P. Greg indicates be- 

 tween twenty and thirty radiant-points as giving rise to the greater propor- 

 tion of shooting-stai's observed throughout the year (see Appendix), and 

 Professor Heis, of Miinster, has supplied a similar list for the use of observers, 

 in the Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society*. That a radiant-point 



* Yol. xxir. p. 214. 

 1864« B 



