OF A METEORIC FIRE-BALL. 
15 
Gettysburg , Pennsylvania, No. 218. Communicated by Prof. M. Jacobs, from a 
description obtained from members of his family who saw the meteor. He estimates 
the time of flight at 50 to 60 seconds, and that it separated into iwo parts at the 
azimuth N. 10° W., and into three after it passed the meridian; also that the 
azimuth of the point of its first appearance was N. 75° W., and the altitude 20°; 
but not seeing it himself till it had nearly completed its course across the heavens, 
he does not express confidence in these determinations. 1 
Green Point , Long Island (3 miles N. E. of the City Hall in New York). Esti 
mated time “ near 10 o’clock P. M.” 1 2 
Greenwich , Connecticut, Lat. 41° 3', Long. 73° 39'. Visible nearly two minutes. 
Hagerstown, Maryland, No. 189. Observed by John II. Heyser, who says the 
meteor was visible for 15 seconds, and disappeared in the direction E. S. E. at an 
altitude of 8° to 10°. He also says that its “elevation when opposite me, that is, 
when my position was at right angles to its course,” was 45°. 
Hamilton , Canada West, Nos. 76(a) and 168. No. 76(a) is from a somewhat 
elaborate article on the meteor, by J. Hurlburt, published in the Hamilton Specta 
tor, in which it is stated that “ it* was seen in this city at 9h. 20m. by the Great 
Western time, as decided by a conductor of one of the trains just coming into the 
depot. Its altitude was somewhat nearly ascertained to be about 15° south of the 
zenith.” He says also that the apparent direction of the path was a little north of 
east. No. 168 was communicated by Hr. William Craigie, who took much pains, 
at the time, to ascertain the facts in regard to the meteor’s path. He says: “ The 
general account was that it passed right overhead from ivest to east but he could 
find no one who saw it much west of the meridian. One man, who was sitting at 
his own door, fronting easterly, saw the light, and, looking up, saw the meteor come 
in sight “ in a line with the corner of the eaves-trough of an adjoining house; but 
he was not sure whether he had not started to his feet ere he saw it. The bearing 
was about S. 15° W., and the altitude, if seen when sitting, about 80° ; or, if stand 
ing, about 75°. The meteor, he says, was visible to him 15 to 20 seconds, and 
“ disappeared behind a house in a direction east, or perhaps a little north of east, 
and at least 15° above the horizon.” 3 
Hamilton College Observatory , New York, Nos. 12, 23, and 181. Observed by 
Dr. C. H. F. Peters, and communicated in a letter, from which the following 
extract is taken: “ The beautiful aspect of the meteor of July 20th, I must confess, 
surprised me so, that I paid but a secondary attention to its path among the stars. 
The following notes, how T ever, were taken at the moment: ‘ Moving slowly from the 
northwestern horizon, near a Virginis, the meteor passed a little above yi Ophiuci, 
1 According to the calculated path, the first separation occurred at the azimuth N. 8° 48' E., and 
and the second at N. 58° 42' E. Its altitude was at no time so great as 20°, nor its western azimuth 
so great as 75°. If it disappeared, as is stated, in the direction N. *75° E., and was visible one 
minute, it must have first appeared at the azimuth N. 44° W., and at an altitude of about 8^°. 
8 According to calculation, it passed the meridian of Green Point at 9h. 48m. P. M. 
3 According to calculation, it was first seen at 9h. 23m. 31 sec. by Hamilton time, and reached an 
altitude of 15° from the eastern horizon at 9h. 23m. 47^ sec., making it visible 16^ seconds; but the 
eastern azimuth was some 38° more southerly than is stated in the text.