g^O STREAKS OF LIGHT FROM SMdOTlNG STARS* 



Mr. De Luc's meteorologist, J. A De Luc, Esq., has spoken of this ph£~ 



esih * noraenon as being occasioned by jets or streams of some 



fluids, from the surface of the Earth into the atmosphere* 



and the falling again of the same in a phosphorescent 



state, &c. 



The same sincere desire for the extension of our knowledge 



on this very interesting subject, that induced me formerly to 



address the gentlemen alluded to, now prompts me to state, 



that the above explanation of the phenomenon by Mr. De 



<loes not agree l uc ' ls at variance with all the best observations that I have 

 with the facts. t 



made, or seen recorded, concerning these meteors: and that 



the fact of their general approach to rectilinear courses* 

 exactly accords with all their other appearances, as being those 

 of bodies describing parts of very large ellipses, in one of the 

 foci of which the centre of our planet is situate ; and all, ex- 

 cept a very few of them (which from their apparent size 

 would not be called falling stars by any one, but large 

 meteors, as I apprehend), are moving so distant from as, and 

 in such rare parts of our atmosphere, though with satellitic 

 velocity, as not ever to be turned suddenly out of their cour- 

 ses, by highly condensed air before them, as Mr. De Luc 

 with great appearance of probability maintains the electric 

 spark to be deflected on or near to the surface of the Earth. 

 And farther, 1 beg to repeat tny conviction, that all the streaks. 

 light aa optic °*' %ht, that J have sometimes seen, as following shooting 

 illusion. stars and meteors, are to be referred to the eye remaining 



stationary, or nearly so, during the observations that were 

 followed by streaks of light: and I venture to recommend, 

 as decisive of this question, that two, three, or more intelli- 

 gent persons should observe in conjunction, and each one 

 withoutcommunication with the others, write down as quickly 

 as possible the circumstances attending his observation : and 

 if then it happens, as it invariably has done with myself and 

 others, either that there are no streaks seen, or that some will 

 see streaks and others none, accordmgas their eye does or does 

 not adapt itself to the apparent motion of the meteor; then 

 this supposed evidence of streams of phosphorescent fluids 



* But which is not their invariable appearance, as I have sometimes 

 srjesi them move in curves. 



must 



