: A CATALOGUE OF OBSERVATIONS OF LUMINOUS METEORS. 137 
Report on Observations of Luminous Meteors, 1857-58. By the Rev. 
BaveEn Powe tt, M.A., F.R.S., F.R.A.S.,F.G.S., Savilian Professor 
of Geometry in the University of Oxford. 
Durinc the year which has elapsed since my last Report to the British Asso- 
ciation, I have received a considerable number of communications of meteor 
observations from various observers, especially, as on so many former occasions, 
from Mr. E. J. Lowe, as well as from other friends, to whom I am happy to 
add on this occasion the names of Dr. J. H. Gladstone and Mr. G. J. Symons. 
The last-named observer is the only one who has recorded any remarkable 
number as seen at the August period. He has communicated many seen 
on the 10th of August, 1856, anda still larger number about the corresponding 
time in 1858, few, however, ov the 10th, but a great number on the 13th. In 
some parts of England the 10th was cloudy. 
Of the various theories which have been proposed to explain the nature of 
luminous meteors, some were alluded to in the Report of last year. At the 
meeting of the British Association at which that Report was presented, a paper 
was also communicated by Mr. Daniel Vaughan, of Cincinnati, U. S., in which 
he proposed another hypothesis which seems to have considerable claims on 
our attention; it has also been given at large in his recent work entitled 
* Popular Physical Astronomy.” 
The main principle of this theory is, that the author conceives the lumini- 
ferous ether diffused through space, but in obedience to the law of gravita- 
tion condensed round large bodies, in a more intense degree in proportion to 
their mass. Hence in our system it is immensely condensed round the sun, 
but feebly round the planets. When in this state of condensation, it is capable 
of being acted upon so as to produce the most intense light and heat. As 
existing round our earth, it can only be sufficiently condensed to produce such 
effects by the immense local compression arising from the rapid motion of 
meteorites. Hence their luminosity, even when far above the atmosphere ; but 
on entering it, the compression is so great, according to the author's calcula- 
tion, as to crush them to pieces. 
The details of this theory are given in the Appendix (No. 1), by some 
extracts from the author's work, and also in a letter addressed by him to the 
author of this Report, with the view to correct some misapprehensions of the 
theory which have been entertained. 
In the Appendix (No.2) there is given a statement which has appeared in 
print, of a very singular luminous phenomenon, the nature of which it is diffi- 
cult to conjecture; but it has the appearance of being the account of a plain 
matter-of-fact witness, who offers no comment or conjecture. To these, one 
or two other communications have been added. 
List of Meteors observed up to August 1857, by G. J. Symons, M.B.M.S., 
at Camden Town, London. 
: 
Date. Time. Mag. | Direction. | Track. | Remarks. 
a ee ees ites inte keeled | 
Dec. 13} 9 10 p.m. 3 sw.nw. | ~2S~ Very near the horizon. 
30) 9 0 p.m. 2 NE.-SE. | ae 
rose. z oe -. Chee 
