A Bright Meteor

Abstract

WE had the good fortune to witness a splendid meteor here on Sunday evening, the 12th of this month. The sky was perfectly clear, the hour 8 p.m. The lady with whom I was walking, by an exclamation called my attention to it, so that I did not see it on its first appearance, but it must have started from the neighbourhood of α Draconis; it then pursued a south-easterly course, passing nearly parallel to ζ and η Ursæ Majoris and α Böotis or Arcturus, and disappearing at last behind a hill to the east. We did not, therefore, see its termination; but I hear from others who did, that there was no explosion. It must have taken several seconds in its flight, as there was time for my companion to make several remarks. Its size was very considerable, and its light intermittent. Three or four times it seemed as if about to be extinguished, but again blazed forth; the colour was a fine yellow, changing to crimson; a train of sparks followed it of about 5°. in length. The whole path traversed could not have been less than 50°. In the evening twilight not many stars were visible, so that I was unable to determine its exact course as accurately as I could have wished.