18 
ON THE ORBIT AND PHENOMENA 
it exploded when a little east of north; and that tne duration of its passage was 
three minutes.” 1 
Lima , Pennsylvania, No. 135. Observed by Minshall Painter, who reports that 
the meteor was “ first seen at an elevation of 20° to 25°that it was a little higher 
when it passed the meridian; and that the duration of its passage was “ not over 
one minute.” 
Lockport, New York, No. 177. Communicated by George Berk in reply to a 
letter from me. The following is an extract from his reply: “I found one gentle 
man, who saw the meteor, and observed it carefully, and verified his observations by 
visiting the ground the next day. He says that its course, through the greater part 
of its path, appeared to be nearly horizontal, and that its apparent altitude, when in 
the direction you name, S. 48|° E., was about 40°. I was not able to visit the 
place of observation with him to make any measurements, but as he has given con 
siderable attention to this, and to astronomical phenomena generally, I have no 
doubt that the angle, as it appeared to him, is nearly correct.” 1 2 
Lowville , New York, Nos. 58, 62, 95, 109, 115, and 128. Communicated by 
Dr. Franklin B. Hough, in reply to a letter from the author. The following is an 
extract from his reply: “ In compliance with your request, I have made inquiries of 
several persons who saw the meteor of July 20th, and with a theodolite have taken 
the angles observed by them. 
“ Mr. Sweeney first saw it due west at an elevation of 9°. It issued from behind 
a cloud, and was rising (apparently). Soon after, it gave off sparks compared to 
Roman candles; seen over half a minute. It passed a point S. 9° E. at an eleva 
tion of 18° 15', and disappeared at a point S. 38° E. at an elevation of 1° 12'. 3 
“ Mr. D. A. Smith saw it S. 68° W. at an elevation of 22°; also S. 22° W. at an 
elevation of 24° 45'. 
“Mr. W. H. Greeley and W. Watson saw it S. 38° W. 20° high. 
“ All agree upon its division into two parts, one following the other. The time is 
usually put at from 30 to 50 seconds. 
“ All the horizontal angles above given are from the magnetic meridian, which 
now varies 5° 45' W. at this place.” 
Madison, New Jersey, Lat. 40° 46', Long. 74° 29'. Reported time of the meteor’s 
appearance “nearly 10 o’clock P. M.” 4 
Marcy , New York, Lat. 43° 9', Long. 75° 16'. Meteor exploded “when it 
passed the meridian.” 5 
1 According to the calculated path, it exploded in the direction N. 7° 44' E., but the meteor occu 
pied less than 10 seconds in passing from the meridian of Libertytown to the farthest point east at 
which it was seen by any reliable observer. 
3 According to calculation, the meteor must have appeared to rise till it reached the azimuth S. 15° 
or 20° W., where its altitude was over 68°, and then apparently descended, reaching the altitude 
“ 40,” at an easterly azimuth of about 50°. 
3 According to calculation, the interval between Mr. Sweeney’s first and last observations was 61 
seconds. 
4 By calculation, the meteor passed the meridian of Madison at 9h. 45m. 56 sec. 
5 According to calculation, the first disruption occurred some eight seconds earlier. See note 
under Washingtonville, page 31.