TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 31 



Astronomy. 



On some Recent Advances in the Lunar Theory. 

 By Prof. J. C. Adams, F.B.S. 



On a new Method of Calculating the Absolute Duration of Geological Periods. 



By Prof. Hatjghton, F.B.S. 



The Solar Eclipse of Ayathocles considered, in reply to Professor Newcomb's 

 criticism on the Coefficient of Acceleration of the Moon's Mean Motion. By 

 Prof. Hatjghton, F.B.S. 



On the Tendency of a System of Heavenly Bodies to Centralize andApplanize, 

 if subject to Besistance in their Motions. By F. G. Landon, M.A. 



On a Meteor which passed over Bhawnpore, in India, in October 1873. 

 By Major G. N. Monet. 



While staying at the capital of the independent state of Bhawnpore, on the 

 Sutlej, the author was aroused from sleep early one inorning by a tremendous 

 sound resembling the passage of several express trains, while the room was brightly 

 illuminated, and this sound was followed by violent explosions which shook the 

 building. He at first supposed an earthquake had occurred. After breakfast he 

 heard that a shower of stones had fallen eighteen miles ofl" to the north-east, and 

 later in the day some pieces were brought in. The largest was an irregular mas?, 

 ii ft. long by 1 ft. thick, still hot, blackened outside as by the action of fire, of a 

 dark grey colour inside, and very heavy. The natives said there were many more — 

 one as large as a bullock-cart. A second shower fell about thirty miles beyond the 

 first. There could be no deception, as there were no other stones within a hundred 

 miles of Bhawnpore, the soil being purely alluvial or sandy. The meteor, it ap- 



Jteared, was seen by a European who was superintending the erection of a palace 

 or the Nawab. He described it as a huge ball of fire, as big as twenty moons, 

 which passed with a roaring sound directly over his head in a north-easterly di- 

 rection. It lit up the whole sky, the light being perfectly dazzling, and left behind 

 it a flaming track of red, green, and yellow. Before passing out of sight two ex- 

 plosions in quick succession took place, at each of which a shower of sparks seemed 

 to fall, but no alteration was apparent in the size or shape of the meteor itself. 

 No attempt was made by the Government to collect information about this re- 

 markable meteor. To give some idea of its magnitude it was stated that it was 

 seen and heard at points quite 400 miles from Bhawnpore. 



Light. 



On a Method of shoiving the Sun's Botation by Spectrum PhotogrcqJiy. 

 By Captain Abnet, F.B.S. 



On a new Unit of Light for Photometry. By A. Yernon Harcot/rt, F.B.S, 



