228 On the Meteor of May 18th, 1838, 



seconds. This estimate is probably too great, yet it gives the 

 velocity of the meteor 18 miles per second. At Clinton, the path 

 observed Avas at least 218 miles, and the time was estimated at 

 five seconds, making a velocity of 43 miles per second. ~ The 

 path observed at Buffalo was probably 112 miles, and the time 

 was estimated from 4 to 5 seconds, Avhich gives a velocity of 25 

 miles per second. At Hudson and Aurora, the path seen was 

 about 218 miles, and the time estimated from 6 to 7 seconds, giv- 

 ing a velocity of 33 miles per second. These are the observa- 

 tions I think most to be relied upon ; and the average velocity 

 resulting from them, is 30 miles per second. 



Let us now form some estimate of the magnitude of the me- 

 teor. Its diameter at Hanover was estimated at one fourth that 

 of the moon, and its least distance was 281 miles. Its absolute 

 diameter then was .65 mile. At Clinton, the meteor appeared 

 very much elongated in the horizontal direction, and was follow- 

 ed by two smaller portions at intervals of less than a degree each. 

 The breadth of the head was estimated at eight minutes, and its 

 distance was 118 miles, which makes the absolute breadth .27 

 mile. The length of the principal portion was about one de- 

 gree, that is, nearly two miles. The two smaller portions which 

 followed in the rear, were about a tenth of a mile in diameter. 

 At Buffalo, also, the meteor appeared elongated, its horizontal di- 

 ameter beiug four or five times the vertical. Its least diameter 

 was estimated at half that of the moon, and its distance being 

 about 66 miles, its absolute breadth must have been .29 mile. 

 Its length was four or five times this amount. At Hudson, its 

 diameter was estimated at one third that of the moon, and being 

 distant 226 miles, its absolute diameter was .66 mile. The ob- 

 servations made in other places agree substantially with the 

 above, and from them we may infer, that the absolute diameter 

 of the meteor was about three quarters of a mile. At the more 

 distant stations, the meteor appeared nearly circular, but from 

 the nearest points of observation, it appeared decidedly elongated. 

 Almost all the observers noticed a falling off of various portions 

 from the main body, which, lagging behind, formed a species of 

 train. Several of these smaller portions formed a considerable 

 fraction, perhaps one tenth part, of the main body itself 



This meteor must have consisted of matter exceedingly rare, 

 and of very feeble cohesion. During nearly its entire route, new 

 portions of matter were continually detaching themselves from 



