Fireballs

Abstract

THE following account I have received from a lady at Brühl near Cologne, July 26:—“8.22. A large fireball of scarlet fire almost as large as a harvest moon just sailed along and upwards, at a varying but mostly very rapid rate, until, at a great height, it remained for some minutes almost or quite stationary; then after some uncertain movements rose again, and rising, became smaller, until it finally disappeared.... Every one who saw it seemed petrified with amazement.” This is of interest from the long time that the ball was visible, and its being seen by several people. I described some time ago some fireballs which I saw slowly moving at a distance during a storm in Egypt, which were then put down as illusory results of a flash (NATURE, vol. xxiv. p. 284), but now many similar cases have been lately reported. A large fireball, described as about a foot in diameter, was seen a few years ago near here; it struck a pavement, went over a low wall, moved across a wide lawn, and finally vanished in a wet ditch.