affected by the Earth. 245 
nodes at n,n’, and would there meet'the earth’s circle E at the tan- 
gent points. Let mt, r?’ be tangents at m and r to the orbits of 
closeness ; for, because 
of the small length of 
the ares En, En’ and m 
n,rn’, compared with the 
tadius vector E S or m 
and rS, the sun’s action 
Upon the meteors and up- 
on the earth may be con- 
sidered the same, both 
i2 amount and direction, 
48 will more fully appear 
8 subsequent aragraph, and by discussing separately the in- 
equalities introduced by that supposition. Also, on account 
¢ near proportionality of those tangents to their arcs, as well as 
their near approach to the same in magnitude, Ei represents 
the earth’s velocity in that tangent, m¢ will equally represent 
the velocity of m in the latter tangent. Both the earth and the 
meteor would therefore meet in ¢ if undisturbed; and, inasmuch 
4s the two are affected alike by the sun’s attraction they will, in 
‘act, meet in n, fulfilling accordingly the condition which alone 
is required to constitute mt m’t’ true tangents. In other words 
if the earth and a meteor considered as mere points in. their re- 
ective orbits will in fact meet, then, under the supposition that 
the solar influences upon both have been the same in amount 
: direction, the same points would have met by their motion 
Uniform] y continued—that is to say the respective tangents meet. 
‘Ne same concurrence may be shown in respect of Ei and rt’; 
80 that the planes Emt and Ert’ may be taken as parallel and 
88 continuing parallel to their first positions, although moving 
with the points E, m, t, or ose are moved by the 
y 7, %, as t . 
sun’s attraction. Under such a representation of the two ve- 
Telative velocity in the parallel Er. It is also desirable to no- 
fiee that if m! J a meteor intercepted by. the 
rbits of E “ vil 
‘ah E and mand the tangent Ht wi 
hen ee use cemoel a distance equal to 
