New York Times
New York City, NY.
Monday, July 30, 1860
Page: 5
THE GREAT METEOR
Call for Information at the National Observatory
The great meteor of Friday evening, July 20, was probably seen far out at sea, by ships between the parallels of 35 degree and 40 degree N. All who observed it are requested to communicate the fact to Lieut. MAURY, National Observatory, Washington, stating as nearly as they can the position of the ship, the precise time of night, and describing the path of the meteor, its bearings from the observer, and its probable altitude.
OBSERVATIONS AT VARIOUS POINTS
In connection with the above, we publish a few of the many communications which have reach us relative to the appearance of the phenomenon:
ON A NORTH RIVER STEAMBOAT
NIAGARA FALLS, Thurday, July 26, 1860.
To the Editor of the New York Times:
As a contribution to knowledge in regard to the meteor of Friday evening, July 20, please accept my account, and let me state that I saw it from the moment of its emergence above the horizon to that of its disappearance in the eastern, and noticed every phase. I was on board the Hudson River steamboat New World, on her passage from Nork York, seated with many others on the upper deck, which had no awning or other cover to interrupt the view. It was about 9 1/2 o'clock, and we were just entering the Highlands, (say lat. 41 degree 18, lon. 73 degree 55',) when the meteor appeared. Admitting that the boat was heading due north, which, however, I do not know, then the meteor rose from a point in the western horizon a little to the south of west - say 15 or 20 degrees. Coming up vertiically, it passed over us a little to the south of the zenith, and descended to the eastern horizon, just aheam of the boat, which would indicate due east if the boat was heading north.
When the meteor first appeared above the crest of the hill on the western shore, it looked like the fireball of a "Roman candle," of the same bluish white color, and great brilliancy, but much enlarged, the nucleus appearing about half as large as a hat, and, in fact, the first idea was very general, that some one on the hill was exhibiting a gigantic Roman candle, That idea was however, soon dispelled by observing its uniform, unretarded rate of motion, and its steady, long-continued movement upward and onward, and it was then evident that its vertical rising was owing to the immense distance from which it came, on a path parallel with the earth's surface, and from its great height - the effect, in fact, of perspective - and so also in regard to its disappearance in the eastern horizon.
When about half-way up to the zenith, if left behind it a train of sparks or fragments of a redder color, like sparks of a rocked, but not numerous, the number, however, increasing as the meteor progressed. When near the zenith, but nefore reaching it, say within thirty degrees, the nucleus separated into two, not, however, with any appearance of explosion, but rather as if drawn apart by the superior velocity of the anterior portion. The two parts were of about equal size, and each seemed larger in front, the hinder portions being as it were drawn out to a slender tail, behind which, again, were detached sparks, from wich the bright white light of the nucleus had departed, leaving the read, rocket-like duller-colored sparks in its stead. As the meteor moved to the east, the white light of even the nucleus was becoming dimmer, untill this light disappeared entirely, and the red like took its place, and then there was a train in the sky, just like that seen after the passage of a rocket.
The distance of the fight towards the east, and the diminished brillancy, made it doubtful if it would reach the eastern horizon, but it did, going down in a slender thread, or spark of duller light.
The whole time of the passge could not have been less than a minute, because there was ample time during the flight to form, discuss and after opinions - most people on the deck at first believing it to be a piece of fireworks, intill the unaltered velocity and long continuance induce a change of opinion.
W.H.S.
AT SOUTHAMPTON,
SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday, July 21, 1860
To the Editor of the New York Times:
Through the kindness of a friend who observed it I am able to give you an account of the appearence at this locality of the remarkable meteor of Friday last. At about 9:50 o'clock it was seen, about 25 degrees high, to shoot upwards like a rocket from the constellation of Leo Major, moving in a southeasterly direction. It passed near the northern crown, crossing the near meridian a little south of the zenith, thence onward with apparently less velocity to the southeast, three or four degrees south of Eagle, till it disappeared about thirty degrees above the horizon. It was remarkable for brilliant comiscations (?) throughout the course, and when on the meridian it assumed the form of a trumpet, or a comet with a narrow tail, the nucleus giving prismatic colors, while th tail was of a yellowish-white. When near the meridian, a second meteor formed from it similar in shape and appearance, which followed through the remainder of its course. No sound of explosion was heard, and the observer thinks it occpied abouta minute in passing over its circuit. Supposing it have been thirty miles high when it had passed one half the distance from the points of appearance and disappearance, it might have been visible throughout a circle of over 900 miles in diameter.
AT SUDBURY, VT
HYDE'S HOTEL Sudbury, Vt. Friday, July 28, 1860
To the Editor of the New York Times
A meteor of great brilliancy passed through our eastern sky this evening at about ten minures before 10 o'clock, and as it will probley be reported from many places, I beg to state its appearence here. It was first perceived, shining with a clear white light, apparently three or four times as large as Venus, in about a W. N.W. direction from the house, and an elevation of, I should think. about 13 degrees above the horizon. Its course was across the west into the south, and a few degrees east of south, when it disappeared behind the hills. The course was apparently very nearly parallel with the horizon, and during the latter half, the color gradually changed to red, and it threw off and left trailing behind it a long glittering line, a large part of its substance. Its appearance at the time it was last seen may be judged from the fact that several of the boarders chancing to see the planet Mars, which was shining brilliantly in the southeast, stood gazing at it from a moment, exclaiming that the meteor was standing still.
The motion of the body was apparently quite slow, and the time which it occupied in passing through its course was, I should judge, from 30 to 40 seconds. The persons who saw it with me talk about it being in sight two or three minutes; but I think the maximumtime was not greater than I have said. J.H.
AT PERTH AMBOY
SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1860
To the Editor of the New York Times
Thinking it may be of some interest to scientific associations to obtain all the information they can relative to such matters, I herewith send you my observation of the meteor which appeared in the heavens last evening. At about 9:15 o'clock, as I was standing in an open grass-plot at Perth Amboy, N.J> I saw the body shoot from the heavens from a point about fifty-five to sixty degrees ( 55 degree 6,' 60 degree) above the Western horizon, and take a course very nearly due East. At first I supposed it a rocket, but seeing no tail, and its having the appearanceof a ball of fire about the size of an ordinary orange, I immediately supposed it a meteoric body. Almost immediately following my first sight of it, it appeared like a ball of molten iron, from which small particles became detached and followed the course of the main body, but with a lessened rate of speed. I should say the apparent speed of the chief mass to be about that of a shooting star, (so-called) It seemed to be not over a quater of a mile high, and apparently passed through some of the dark clouds in its course, taking a straight direction both in its line from West to East, and with, apparently, very litter nearer approach to the each as it passed to the East. Some tree intervening, I could not follow it further than to a point at an elevation of about forty-degrees about the Eastern horizon. I should say that the time occupied in going the distance which it did while I saw it was not more than one minute - possibly not so much. Its highest altitude was wehn directly or nearly north of my position, and was, I sould judge, about sixty-five degrees. Perth Amboy is situated in lat. N. 46 degree 31'.
