Koike of several Meteors. 319 



bearing north 20 degrees east. It disappeared at the alti- 

 tude of 22 degrees, bearing south 80 degrees west. The 

 report, supposed to be caused by its explosion, reached the 

 place of observation about seven and a half minutes after 

 its disappearance. To several, who observed it in full view, 

 it appeared equal to about two-thirds of the apparent diam- 

 terofthe moon, leaving a luminous track in the heavens 

 which was not totally extinguished in several minutes after 

 the meteor disappeared. The same persons heard two dis- 

 tinct explosions, with a very short interval of time between 

 ihem. The last they supposed to have been caused by the 

 bursting of one of the largest subdivisions, immediately after 

 the main body had been severed by the first explosion. 



Mr. Doty has published a letter in the Albany Gazette, 

 communicating his observations on the meteor as it appear- 

 ed to him. He was on the Mohawk turnpike, near Cana- 

 joharie, about 10 o'clock P. M. when he observed it. He 

 first observed a sudden flash of light which appeared to ex- 

 tend from the heavens to the earth, and was followed by a 

 momentary darkness, as if a cloud had passed over and in- 

 tercepted the hght. This darkness was soon dispelled, and 

 the blazing meteor was in full view over his head, appearing 

 to be twenty or thirty feet in diameter, and soon began to 

 extend itself to the northeast and southwest, increasing in 

 extension, and decreasing in its flaming appearance, until 

 nothing was to be seen but two detached parts of it rapidly 

 moving in different directions towards the northeast and 

 southwest. Mr. Doty calculates that it was five or six min- 

 utes from the first appearance of the meteor until it finally 

 vanished, and from six to ten minutes from its first appear- 

 ance before the report of its explosion reached him, which 

 resembled the noise of distant cannon, and was followed by 

 a strong sulphurous smell, that lasted fifteen or twenty min- 

 utes. Its explosion, from his statement, also appears to have 

 sensibly affected several houses. 



The Cherry Valley Gazette also mentions this remarka- 

 ble phenomenon. It was seen about 10 o'clock from that 

 place, globular in its appearance and uncommonly lumin- 

 ous, moving with great velocity from northeast to southwest,, 

 and when it disappeared its explosion was distinctly heard. 

 It was visible for several seconds, and from its uncommonly 



