S80 



REPORT — 1869. 



The above measures of the meteor's course are calculated bj- Professor 

 Mudgc, of the Agricultural College of Kansas, who adds that the meteorite 

 must have exploded over the country halfway between the Eepublicau and 

 Solomon Eivcrs. This district has few inhabitants, and no aerolite has yet 

 been picked up. (' American Journal of Science ' for Xov. 1SG8, 2nd scr. 

 vol. xlvi. p. 429.) 



Birmingham. — Large meteor seen in dajdight, Nov. 3rd, 1868, 3^ 17°" p.m. 



Mr. Yrood's description of the meteor (see Catalogue) is accompanied by 

 the following careful drawing and explanations : — 



" The meteor was pear-shaped, the rectangular diameters being | and 

 i the diameter of the moon (fig. 1). The body, brilliant white in front, 

 and ruby-red near the tail, flickered considerably in transit, and diminished 

 towards extinction, as represented in the drawing (fig. 2). Eed flames, 

 or the substance of the meteor, issiied from the nucleus, and extended to- 

 wards the tail one degree, as shown in fig. 1. The tail, 15° long, resem- 

 bled ordinary smoke in sunshine ; only a small scctio]i of it is represented in 



Fig. 2. 



J0/ 



Great daylight lueteor of November 3rd, 1868, as seen from Birmingham. Diameter 

 a I—'IA' ; c (/ = 14'. ff, Ked flames (or particles of the meteor) = l°. 



Space r h c of nucleus rubv-red. Space r a e of nucleus brilliant white, i, portion of 



tail la^ long, bluish-white, smoke-like, lasting H second. 



Fig. 1. Size at appearance. Fig. 2. Kelative size at extinction, devoid of lustre. 



the figure. The nucleus preserved its intensely white light luitil near the 

 last 5° of its course, when there was a perceptible diminiition in its lustre ; 

 its size was tlicn about equal to Yenus. At the time of collapse I thought 

 it dark red, or non-luminous, probably from the contrast with sunlight, as 

 the effect of the sun's presence woiild be to deprive the meteor of the tisual 

 bordering raj^s of light. 



" The same object at night would ceiiaiuly have appeared much larger, 

 and have produced an extraordinary illumination over England. The path 

 appeared slightly imdulating, if it were not an optical illusion produced by 

 the fluctuation of its light. 



" A few clouds were rapidly driving across from the "W.S.W., and the sun 

 shone brightly ; yet the meteor stood prominently out, in bold relief, on the 

 greyish background of the sky." 



The following additional notice of this large meteor is communicated by 

 Sir J. Herschel, Bart. Extract of a letter from H. Griesbach, Esq. 



