424 Magnificent Meteor seen on the 27th of November, 1862. 



ances require to be taken with caution. With those unused 

 to observation there is certain to be a want of steadiness ; 

 amazement bewilders the brain and frequently exaggerates the 

 appearance ; then, again, the want of proper words and terms 

 of description, and also of the knowledge of the various fea- 

 tures to be examined — all operate against a faithful account. 

 This is to be regretted, because each meteor puts on a different 

 appearance, according to the position of the observer ; and this 

 will be apparent when examining the accounts of the late 

 meteor as seen from Grantham and Dover — two places 150 

 miles from each other. 



METEOR AND FORMATION OF ROCKET-IIKE SHOWERS. 



The meteor of 27th November was seen by myself on the 

 platform of the railway station at Grantham under the most 

 favourable circumstances — so much so, that there cannot be 

 an error of five seconds in time, nor of one minute in space. 



Hour of appearance. — 5h. 46m. 57s. p.m., G-.M.T. 



Hour of disappearance. — 5h. 47m. 5s. p.m., G.M.T. 



Motion. — Slow. 



Duration. — 8 seconds. 



Greatest diameter (i.e., width across the head). — 0° 31' 0''. 



Length longitudinally. — 1° 17' 0". 



Colour. — Blue. 



Form. — Kite-shaped. 



Position near (3 Geii.—Al. Oh. 36m. 39s.; S. Dec. 18° 

 45' 0". 



Position near Fomalhaut. — JR.. 22h. 50m. Is. ; S. Dec. 

 30' 20' 59". 



