Meteors

Abstract

ON the evening of Wedue day, November 16, whilst sweeping the western heavens in search of comets, I was startled by a brilliant illumination to my right. Looking up hastily, a bright meteor was seen moving rapidly in the north-eastern heavens; it started about 3° north of Capella, and traversed a path of some 10° in a north-easterly direction, passing about 2° above (or west of) δAurigæ. Its flight did not exceed three seconds, when it burst with a dazzling brilliancy to be compared only to the whiteness of the electric light. At the moment of bursting, it must have been at least five or six times as bright as Venus at her maximum. It left in its wake, covering the full length of its path, a thin, reddish train, which drifted slowly toward the north-east among the stars, gradually collecting into a lightish cloud at its north-east end. Noting the remarkable permanency of the train, I turned the telescope (a 5 inch refractor) upon it, and was surprised to see a brightly-glowing mass of pinkish smoke. The same matter was stretched out toward the south-east into a long, straggling strip. This trail was about 1/4° in breadth, and could be plainly seen with the telescope for a distance of at least 10°. The whole of this drifted north-easterly over the stars, curling slowly like a mighty serpent; it was knotted in places with cumulus forms, probably due to minor explosions in the meteor. The outlines of this wonderful train of celestial smoke were well defined; it did not diffuse itself into the atmosphere, but gradually faded, becoming more contorted each moment. During the whole time of its visibility it retained its pinkish colour. The first appearance of the meteor was at 6h. 48m. local time; the train remained visible to the naked eye for about six minutes. In the telescope it was distinct up to seven o'clock, and at 7h. 03m. it could still be seen in the instrument. While visible, it drifted about 4° to the north-east. No explosion was heard, though listened for. Latitude of place of observation, 36° 10′ north; longitude west of Greenwich, 86° 49′.