OF A METEORIC FIRE-BALL. 
27 
Reading , Pennsylvania, Nos. 53, 108, and 136. Observed by James F. Smith, 
who says : “ The angles were taken with a transit instrument on the morning of the 
21st, and are believed to be a close approximation to the truth, as the impression of 
the elevations was still very distinct.” Time 9h. 50m. 1 L. H. Kendall, who also 
observed the meteor at this place, says it was in sight 1J minutes. 
Rip Van Winkle (steamer), No. 144. Observed opposite the Atlantic Docks, 
Brooklyn, and reported under the signature “**” in the Newark Advertiser of 
July 27th. The observer says that the time was 9h. 45m. j 1 the altitude, when first 
seen, in the W.N.W. 10°; the maximum altitude “considerably more than 45°,” 
“somewhere near 60°,” and says it “finally appeared to merge in Mars—the 
position of that planet being in the precise point of disappearance; so nearly so, 
that for several seconds I thought the meteor was still in sight.” 1 2 
Riverdale , New York, Lat. 40° 55', Lon. 73° 56'. Visible over 45 sec. 
Rochester , New York, Nos. 81, 175, and 182. No. 81 was reported in the 
Rochester Union of July 21st; Nos. 175 and 182 were received from Prof. Chester 
Dewey, who, after remarking upon the poorness of the observations, says: “ From 
my best knowledge the elevation of the meteor here was, at the highest, about 30° 
above the horizon, and its course S. 70° or 72° E. 3 In the direction S. 39° 20' E. 
it could have been about 25° to 26°, or some less. A report was heard here about 
three minutes after the meteor passed out of sight—for it seemed to explode as it 
disappeared, and then appeared double.” Another account makes the interval 
four seconds. 4 
Rockund , Pennsylvania, No. 158. Observed by John F. Frazer, who says that 
it appeared N. 60° W., and disappeared S. 85° E. (magnetic); that it passed 
through Cassiopeia at an altitude of about 35°, but eclipsed all the stars in the 
vicinity, and that the time was 9h. 45m. 5 
Romeo , Michigan, No. 179. Observed by Dr. Seth L. Andrews, who writes: “I 
was out and saw the light of the meteor after it had passed the meridian, and 
perhaps 60° or 70° above the eastern horizon; but it was cloudy and I only had 
glimpses through the rifts, and did not see the body. At an elevation of 40° or 50° 
it passed behind a dense cloud, and did not appear again until very near the horizon, 
when a narrow rift in the clouds showed me that it set very nearly in the east. Its 
passage was very slow, so that I stopped my horse (I was riding in my carriage) to 
1 Calculated time of meridian passage at Reading, 9h. 40m. 3 sec.; and on board the Rip Yan 
Winkle 9h. 47m. 51 sec. 
3 According to the calculated path, neither the western nor the southern azimuth was so great as 
reported by this observer. At the altitude 10°, the western azimuth was somewhat less than 60°, 
and the southeastern azimuth of Mars at the time was 28° 32' 38", while that of the meteor 
exceeded 60°. 
8 The calculated course of the meteor, as it passed the meridian of Rochester, is S. 74° 30' E. 
4 If the “ report” was caused by the disruption near the zenith of Ithaca, and assuming the sound 
to travel 1130 feet per second, the interval should have been, according to the calculated path, about 
74 minutes. 
5 Calculated time of meridian passage 9h. 42m. 10 sec.