Luminous Meteor. 305 



rise which the thermometer experienced, rendering the at- 

 mosphere so sultry that we were reminded of the late great 

 heats, and which was not diminished by the peals of distant 

 thunder that continued to grumble during the afternoon. At 

 quarter to nine o'clock in the evening, one of the grandest 

 celestial phaenomena that has occurred in the memory of the 

 oldest person was exhibited. The air was quite calm ; but 

 there was a heaviness which indicated a surcharge of electric 

 matter. A vivid glare of light, tingeing every object with a 

 pale blue colour, suddenly blazed forth in the heavens, ren- 

 dering the minutest object visible as at noon-day. The eyes 

 of every person in the street were instantly directed to the 

 east, where a most sublime sight met their gaze. A large bodv 

 of fire, in shape like a jargonelle pear, and apparently of the 

 size of a bee-hive, was moving in a direction from SW. to NE. 

 with a rushing noise, something similar to that of a rocket. 

 It left behind it a very long train, not of sparks, but fluid-like, 

 and of the most resplendent prismatic colours. It continued 

 visible for nearly fifteen seconds, having gone over a space of 

 about forty-five degrees, and descended apparently so low that 

 it actually seemed to approach within a hundred feet of the 

 earth. Having assumed a deep crimson tint, it was extin- 

 guished without any explosion, several pieces of red matter, 

 like cinders, falling perpendicularly downwards, which were 

 evidently the burnt remains of the nucleus. St. Andrea's. — 

 On Sunday evening last, at about a quarter before nine, there 

 was seen in this city (St. Andrew's), a highly luminous meteor 

 to the south-east of the city. When it was first observed, it 

 had the appearance of a comet of transcendent brightness, 

 having a nucleus of about half a degree in diameter. It ap- 

 peared to shoot forth in a direction from SW. to NE. over a 

 circular path of about 35 z , and gradually diminishing in mag- 

 nitude, until it finally disappeared. What was perhaps most 

 remarkable in this meteor was, that in its orbit it did not pre- 

 sent an unbroken volume of light, but appeared to throw out 

 bright sparks in all directions, resembling, in some degree, a 

 sky-rocket. The same appearance was observed at Cupar at 

 the same time. Bridlington. — Sunday evening 27th, about 

 nine o'clock, a luminous meteor of dazzling brilliancy was 

 seen at Bridlington, for several seconds, in a NNE. direction ; 

 in disappearing, which might be compared to bursting, it pre- 

 sented bright sparklfngs of a reddish yellow colour. The 

 night was beautifully clear and serene. — Edinburgh Mem Phi- 

 losophical Journal. 



Vol. 68. No. 342. Oct. 1826. 2 Q bitberg 



