84 
PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL SECTION. 
January 12th, 1865. 
Joseph Baxendell, F.R.A.S., President of the Section, 
in the Chair. 
Mr. Heelis, F.R.A.S., communicated the following account 
of a fire ball which he had observed:— 
Tuesday, 13th December, 1864, 0 hour V a.m. Fire ball 
with sensible disc, and brilliant train from middle of seat of 
Cassiopeia’s chair, to a point half-way between a Andromedse 
and a Cygni. Disappeared at an altitude a little greater than 
that of the latter star (in other words about 10° above 
horizon); duration about 2". Train extended from point of 
appearance to that of disappearance, but disappeared almost 
immediately after the meteor itself. Color, bluish white, 
with sparks from head, especially when near the point of 
disappearance. Did not see it burst. Light intense, and 
well defined disc. It was nearly calm on the earth at the 
time, but heavy scud was going rapidly over the moon from 
the S.E.; and to the best of my judgment the meteor fell 
directly before the scud. Laying off the course, &c., on a 
celestial globe, the results are— altitude of point of first 
observation or origin about 50°; altitude of disappearance 10°; 
length of track 40°; direction N.W. 
There was so much scud that the meteor must have passed 
behind several clouds, and so much moonlight that the time 
by watch could be read. Hence the disc could hardly have 
been the effect of irradiation. 
9 a.m. 'Wind S.E.; light, clear weather. 
