Prismatic Spectra of the August Meteors. 167 



turned about half way along the course of the preceding 

 meteor, in half a second; leaving no streak. The spectrum 

 of the nucleus was a concentrated point of yellow light, 

 having all the appearance of some j^ellow shooting-star. 



No. 12; Oh. 42m. a.m. Equal to Sirius; colour white. 

 Shot from a Trianguli to rj Piscium, in one second and a 

 quarter; leaving a streak for four seconds on its coarse. In 

 the spectroscope the meteor slowly crossed the middle of the 

 field of view, on a course directly parallel to the refracting 

 edges of the prisms, producing a very superb spectrum. The 

 spectrum of the nucleus was red, green, and blue ; extremely 

 brilliant. The train-spectrum was diffuse ; i° in width ; in 

 which a thin bright orange-yellow line was plainly seen on the 

 side towards the red. The diffuse portion of the train-spectrum 

 faded in about two seconds, apparently following the nucleus. 

 The sodium line remained extremely bright for not less than 

 two seconds longer, and faded gradually along its whole length, 

 when it also disappeared. The singular characters of this 

 spectrum were most distinctly and beautifully seen, and the 

 long endurance of the sodium line, after the rest had dis- 

 appeared, was leisurely watched. 



No. 13 ; lh. 28m. a.m. Equal to a third mag. star. Shot 

 from P Camelopardi to a Draconis in half a second ; leaving 

 a streak for two seconds on its course. The train- spectrum 

 was a diffuse band of greyish light, -]° wide, somewhat brighter 

 on the side towards the red, and it so vanished. — The spec- 

 trum of the nucleus was appreciably the same as that of the 

 streak. 



No. 14 ; lh. 55m. a.m. Equal to a first mag. star. Shot 

 from o Custodis to 3° below Polaris, in three-quarters of a 

 second ; leaving a bright streak for three seconds. The 

 meteor first appeared in the field of view, and passed out of it. 

 The spectrum of the early portion of the streak, behind the 

 nucleus, was a greyish diffuse band, i° in width. The 

 spectrum of the nucleus was appreciably the same. The 

 brightest part of the streak, before it faded, was brought into 

 the field of view, well situated parallel to the edges of the 

 prisms, and in the middle of the field for about two seconds. 

 Its appearance was that of a golden-yellow line of light, about 

 5° in length, some 4' in width, tapering gently towards the 

 ends ; and perfectly sharp and well defined. It was unaccom- 

 panied by any continuous spectrum, or any bands, or other 

 lines ; and it so disappeared from the ends towards the centre. 

 No. 15; 2h. 15m. a.m. Equal to a second mag. star. 

 Shot from /x to a Andromedee in three-quarters of a second ; 

 leaving a streak for two seconds. The train-spectrum was a 

 diffuse, greyish- white band ; 5 in width, and about 6° or 7° 



