A Magnificent Meteor

Abstract

AT 1.15 a.m., on July 31, I observed a most magnificent meteor—a veritable Andromedes. It was much larger than Jupiter, which was on my right, in the constellation Pisces, shining to the best advantage on a dark blue sky. After the retina of my eye got clear of the dazzling light of the meteor, I turned to Jupiter, which was in a favourable condition for comparison, the clouds being opportunely absent, but it looked at least three times smaller than the meteor, which, indeed, was entitled to be called a fire-ball. It illuminated the whole district with the brilliancy of the noonday sun. I traced it back through Mira Ceti, and to the right of Mesartum Arietis, into the direction of Andromedae. This magnificent meteor exploded near the earth, without any detonation. The light was perfectly white. There was a very peculiar feature in the apparition of this meteor: it appeared to be very near to me, and between its body and the horizon behind it there seemed to be a vast distance. In its explosion it assumed very large dimensions, and the effulgence lasted for three seconds with undiminished splendour. In reality there were two explosions. The trail of light was dim, except immediately behind, where it was thick and bright, but of short duration.