Observations on the Shooting Stars of August, 1844. 319 



On taking my post at 9h. 50m. (11th) I was gratified with the 

 sight of five or six streamers of the aurora borealis, about 4° high 

 on the northern horizon. These vanished in about five minutes. 

 Again, at about lOh. 50m., appeared for a few minutes a short 

 sohtary streamer. No other indications of the aurora boreahs 

 were visible throughout the night. Eight years ago we should 

 have thought so meagre a display hardly worth notice ; but as 

 the phenomenon has now become comparatively rare, and no ex- 

 hibition of it had with certainty been seen since the 22d of May 

 previous, its recurrence even on a small scale, just at this period, 

 seems deserving of some attention. 



The morning of the 13th was clear. Messrs. C. H. Meeker 

 and G. C. Murray, watching from Ih. 50m. to 3h. a. m., sa.\v fort]/ 

 six meteors, viz. in N. 15, S. E. 31. The evening of the 13th 

 was overcast as late as llh., and doubtless much later ; but no 

 observation was attempted after midnight. 



The foregoing observations, although incomplete, are sufficient 

 to show that the meteoric sprinkle of August did recur this year 

 in copiousness not far inferior to any display since 1837. After 

 making a fair allowance for the meteors concealed by clouds, 

 and assuming the average rate at that time of day at forty per 

 hour — we may conclude that the number actually falling on the 

 morning of the 10th, (from midnight to 3 a. m.) was probably 

 not less than six times this average. Whether the morning of 

 the 11th was more fruitful than that of the 10th, we cannot de- 

 termine ; the present being leap-year, there was perhaps no great 

 difference between the two. The next morning shows a decided 

 diminution. 



As no report from this place has, I believe, yet been made rela- 

 tive to the August meteoric period in the year 1843, I will here 

 state, that during the whole time the sky was remarkably cloudy, 

 and afforded scarcely any opportunity of making the usual ob- 

 servations. 



I take this occasion to correct two errors in my paper on the 

 star-showers of former times, in Vol. xl of this .Journal, viz. 

 p. 352, line 11th from bottom, for Saturday read Friday ; p. 356, 

 line 12th from bottom, for Victor read Secundus. 



Yale College, October, 1844. 



