366 On the Meteors of I2th JVovember. 



ded a little northward of the star Capella, left, just behind the place 

 of explosion, a phosphorescent train of peculiar beauty. This line 

 was at first nearly straight, but it shortly began to contract in length, 

 to dilate in breadth, and to assume the figure of a serpent drawing it- 

 self up, until it appeared like a small luminous cloud of vapor. This 

 cloud was borne eastward, (by the wind, as was supposed, which was 

 blowing gently in that direction) opposite to the direction in which the 

 meteor had proceeded, remaining in sight several minutes. The light 

 of the meteors was usually white, but was occasionally prismatic with 

 a predominance of blue. 



A quarter before six o'clock, it appeared to the company that the 

 point of apparent radiation was moving eastward from the zenith, 

 when it occurred to the writer to mark its place, accurately, among 

 the fixed stars. The point was then seen to be in the constellation 

 Leo, within the bend of the sickle, a little to the westward of Gam- 

 ma Leonis. During the hour following, the radiating point remain- 

 ed stationary in the same part of Leo, although the constellation in 

 the mean time, by the diurnal revolution, moved westward to the me- 

 ridian nearly 15 degrees.* By referring to a celestial globe, it will 

 be seen that this point has a right ascension of 150 degrees, and a de- 

 clination of about 21 degrees. Consequently, it was, when on the 

 meridian, 20 degrees 18 minutes south of the zenith. 



The weather had sustained a recent change. On the evening of 

 the 11th, a very copious southerly rain fell, and on the 12th, a 

 high westerly wind prevailed, by gusts. Last evening the sky was 

 very serene ; a few " falling stars" were observed, but they were not 

 so numerous as to excite particular attention. 



The writings of Humboldt contain a description of a similar ap- 

 pearance observed by Bonpland, at Cumana, in 1799. It is worthy 

 of remark, that this phenomenon was seen nearly at the same hours 

 of the morning, and on the 12th of November. 



Yale College, Nov. 13, 1833." 



2. Phenomena as observed at Boston, (Lat. 42° 21' N. Lon. 

 71° 4' W.) and published in the Columbian Centinel. 



" This morning there was the appearance of a thick shower of fire. 

 It was occasioned by the incessant falling of innumerable meteors 

 commonly called falling or shooting stars. 



Having risen as usual at 4 o'clock, I thought I observed several 

 very bright falling stars, but as the window was covered with steam, 



* Aware of the inipoi tance of this fact to the question whether the origin of the 

 meteors was terrestrial or not, the writer remarked it with much interest; but the ad- 

 vancing light of day rendered his means of observation imperfect,, and he therefore felt 

 it necessary to rely on those who saw the phenomena earlier and longer, for a con- 

 firmation of it, if the fact was so. Accordingly, in the paper of the succeeding day, 

 he inserted a special request for information respecting this point. The same request 

 has been addressed to observers in several places remote from each other : the re- 

 sult will appear in the sequel. 



