OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 71 



nosity, issuing, apparently, from close behind and from the centre of the moon's 

 side. From this point of first appearance it glided 



slowly eastward, leaving on its track a train of Meteor. Thej^on. 



gold-coloured sparks as broad and bright and 

 compact, apparently, as the nucleus which it pur- 

 sued. After advancing for a considerable space 

 the nucleus disappeared instantaneously, as if it 

 were suddenly extinguished ; and the sweeping portion of the train nearest 

 to the moon broke into separate sparks, while the train, along its whole 

 length, lay scattered along the sky like sparkling dust, which quickly faded 

 away. In the absence of any neighbouring stars, which were then only 

 beginning to glimmer faintly in the evening light, no more exact description 

 of its apparent course, after leaving the moon's side, could be successfully 

 attempted. 



A complete view of the meteor from its point of commencement, in a 

 cloudless sky, was also obtained by Professor Herschel at Hawkhurst, in 

 Kent, where it passed across the sky, at a considerable elevation, and with a 

 long and brilliant course, at about 9'' 44"" p.m. In the first portion of its 

 flight, which commenced close to the stars q, r Yulpeculaj, it increased from 

 the brightness of a first-magnitude star to that of Sirius ; and thence, while 

 passing near the star i^ Cygni, it was accompanied on its course as far as the 

 star ju Pegasi by a uniform and compact train of yellow sparks, of nearly the 

 same brightness, and of twice the apparent diameter of the nucleus. The 

 brightness of the meteor, in this part of its course, was but little less, and it 

 at length exceeded that of the planet Venus at its greatest brilliancy, while 

 its head was of the same yellow colour as the wide track of light which 

 formed its train. At the latter point the bright nucleus disappeared, and 



Cyqnas 



VwTjte. 

 Cwla- 



the luminoiis train of sparks ceased, while a small spark, about as bright as 

 a fourth-magnitude star, with intermittent light, could be traced pursuing its 

 course about 8° or 9° further, to a point about 2° below the star v Pegasi, 

 where it finally disappeared. The meteor moved over its whole apparent 

 course of 40° in six seconds ; and the bright belt of light, about 6' in 

 apparent width and 20° in length, which remained on its track, was visible 

 for three or four seconds afterwards, resolving itself into small sparks, which 

 appeared to move forwards along the streak in the direction in which the 

 meteor had advanced. The perfect continuity of the long train of sparks, its 

 little inferior brightness, similar golden-yellow colour, and general resem- 

 blance to the head, which it enclosed so completely on both sides as to 

 exceed it considerably in width, and the steady forward motion of the meteor, 

 caused it to strikingly resemble the sudden and horizontal discharge of a 

 distant rocket. Such features of special interest in its appearance will, it may 

 be hoped, from its brightness, and from the clearness of the sky on that even- 

 ing, have attracted the attention of observers at other places, besides the two 

 widely distant points of observation here recorded, at which its appearance 



