400 Miscellanies. 



July 14. More rain, so that every thing was fully recovered to ad- 

 miration. 



August 11. A plentiful rain. 



December 21. In the evening, two dracones volantes, [meteoric fire- 

 balls,] of unusual dimensions were seen ; on the extinguishing of one, 

 a noise like a great gun was heard : both light and noise were affright- 

 ing to many. 



17. Description of RusseWs Planetarium, with improvements: — This 

 great orrery is drawing towards its completion. When finished, the 

 zodiac will describe a circle of more than 48 feet. 



The celestial sphere is about 4 feet 8 inches in diameter, and con- 

 tains the Sun, Mercury, Venus, the Earth and the Moon. The superior 

 planets are placed on the outside of the sphere ; Jupiter, Saturn, and 

 Herschel, having their satellites revolving around them in their proper 

 order, with their inclinations to the plane of the ecliptic. Saturn has 

 his two concentric rings, with their proper inclination and direction. 



This armillary sphere is a beautiful structure, and is an important 

 addition to the orrery first made by Mr. Russell. 



The whole machine will weigh about one ton and a half, and is com- 

 posed chiefly of cast and wrought iron, and brass, with but little wood. 

 It contains about 500 cog-wheels, large and small, principally of brass. 



The Earth revolves on its axis, inclined as in nature about 23^°, and 

 remains parallel to itself, exhibiting perfectly the manner in which the 

 changes of the seasons are produced, and the variations in the lengths 

 of the days and nights. The other planets also revolve on their axes 

 duly inclined to the planes of their own orbits, so that the causes of the 

 vicissitudes upon each planet are readily comprehended. 



The Moon revolves around the Earth in an orbit duly inclined to the 

 plane of the ecliptic ; making ascending and descending nodes, the 

 retrograde motion of which is also given, so that the circumstances 

 under which eclipses of the Sun and Moon happen, are clearly shown. 

 The libration of the Moon is also exhibited. 



The Sun is represented by a gilt globe about 15 inches in diameter, 

 revolving in about its proper time. 



The primary planets are represented by beautiful glass globes made 

 opake, with some attention to their relative magnitudes and telescopic 

 appearances. 



Vesta, Juno, Ceres, and Pallas, are all to be introduced in the ma- 

 chine ; their motions and great inclinations being properly represented. 



Jupiter, Saturn, and Herschel, will furnish us with their splendid little 

 orreries, either attached or detached ; making at the same time their 

 proper revolutions while going around the Sun. 



Columbus, Ohio, February, 1842. 



