On the Meteors of 13th November, 1833. 343 
The Middletown azimuth appears to have been certainly north of 
the western point. In fig. 1, the foot of the vertical is placed south of 
that azimuth, and as little north of the due west (only 14°) as could 
possibly be admitted. Again, the height tn that vertical is settled, to 
a certainty, by the circumstances of Prof. Olmsted’s observation at 
N. Haven, and Lieut. Cram’s at West Point, to have been, to say 
the least, not far above the height fixed upon in the diagram. From 
these considerations combined, it seems to be certain, that the zenith 
distance at Brookfield, which Mr. Tomlinson estimated to be 10°, 
was in truth as much as 13°; and if the meteor’s path was, in fact, 
exactly centered in the zenith it must, instead of “20° at least,” as 
estimated by Mr. Tomlinson, have been 26°, as estimated by a sec- 
ond observer in the same place. But, as the eye cannot be con- 
sidered competent to detect a variation of less than 3°, we prefer to 
suppose the southern zenith distance to have been but 10°—which 
was considered by Mr. Tomlinson, after his actual measurement, 
spoken of before, the least supposable angular distance. 
The obliquity of the meteor’s path is determined equally by the 
known zenith distance of the radiant (22°) and the Kent observa- 
tion, which co-incides with it. The intersection of this path with the 
Brookfield back line takes place in a vertical, shown in position, in 
fig. 1, by the star south of Brookfield ; and at a height, above the sur- 
face, of 80.40 miles. The same height, by the Middletown observed 
arc, would be 73.80 miles; and by the New Haven minimum arc, 
which is the one made use of in constructing the figure, it would be 
but 64.75 miles: the New Haven maximum observation however, 
had that been adopted, would have mounted beyond the Brookfield 
altitude, which we have relied upon, as correct.—In accordance 
with these principles the meteor’s visible path was 55 miles; which 
must be near the truth. As there is no reason to suppose this me- 
teor to have been luminous before its entrance into the atmosphere, 
we see, in these facts, a presumption that the atmosphere itself must 
have tts limit much higher than is generally supposed. Our calcu- 
lations may suggest to philosophers the propriety of attempting a de- 
termination of the atmospheric elevation, by means of the upper 
extremity of what are called “shooting stars”, which certainly seem 
to bear a close affinity to the meteors of Nov. 13th, and which are so 
common that observers, at the distance of several miles, might by mu- 
tual arrangements for observation upon almost any clear evening obtain 
the data for accurate calculations. Asto the cloud—its path, which 
